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• Lawmakers poised for smoking-ban fight  

A six-member panel of lawmakers is working to resolve competing bills that passed the state House of Representatives and Senate last year and could release its plan Tuesday. The House-Senate panel is dominated by lawmakers who believe the state should not dictate smoking decisions for business owners or residents.

It likely will push for a plan to continue to allow smoking in casinos, hotels, private clubs and bars where food sales represent only a small portion of total revenue.

Pennsylvania's casinos have pushed to retain some smoking areas. Last week, Atlantic City, N.J., officials voted to ban smoking in gambling areas of casinos. Smoking lounges would be allowed in nongambling areas.

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