http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/state/PA.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.leader-vindicator.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19688246&BRD=2758&PAG=461&dept_id=572980&rfi=6 http://tobacco.org/news/265377.html A no-smoking bill was pushed into limbo Monday by Gov. Ed Rendell's veto threat. . . . Yes, restaurants are privately owned. But in "dry" areas, restaurants cannot serve alcoholic beverages unless they take advantage of loopholes in liquor-license laws, e.g., resort licenses. We think the Legislature ought to allow local governments to enact limitations on smoking in businesses that are open to the public - but not on strictly private entities, or within private property such as homes or vehicles. That is pretty much in tune with what is, or ought to be, the status with regard to alcohol. Dubois Courier-Express Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08135/881908-100.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265371.html In an effort to spur action on a long-delayed bill to restrict smoking, state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf today called for two public discussions early next month among House-Senate conference committee members. Mr. Greenleaf called meetings when the Legislature gets back to Harrisburg, on June 3 and 4. Mr. Greenleaf, in a speech today on the Senate floor, said "scientific and medical evidence'' of the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke keeps piling up, and the Legislature must adopt a law to keep as many workplaces and public places as smoke-free as possible. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08136/881969-52.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265370.html State Sen. Stewart Greenleaf called meetings on a proposed ban on smoking in workplaces when the Legislature gets back to Harrisburg on June 3 and 4. Mr. Greenleaf, in a speech yesterday on the Senate floor, said "scientific and medical evidence" of the harmful health effects of secondhand smoke keeps piling up, and the Legislature must adopt a law to keep as many workplaces and public places as smoke-free as possible. Casinos, private fraternal and social membership clubs, cigar bars, smaller taverns and tobacco processing facilities want to continue to allow smoking, but some legislators want to ban smoking to protect employees and patrons. Another issue is whether the Legislature will adopt one smoke-free bill that applies to the whole state Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08137/882336-53.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265369.html The Allegheny County medical examiner's office said Richard Piotrowski, 62, was pronounced dead at 5:17 a.m. . . . He was hurt when a blaze broke out about 7 a.m. Wednesday in his apartment at the Roosevelt Arms on Penn Avenue. The city arson squad said he caused the fire, which forced the evacuation of the building, by smoking while using oxygen. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/18861584.html http://tobacco.org/news/265368.html Gov. Rendell, speaking to reporters in Harrisburg this morning, vowed to veto legislation for a statewide indoor smoking ban if it weakens a law already enforced in Philadelphia. Mayor Nutter, while a member of City Council, championed the city's indoor smoking ban, which was signed into law in September 2006 and went into effect in January 2007. State Sen. Vince Fumo today issued a press release criticizing the proposed legislation for a statewide smoking ban now being considered in Harrisburg. Fumo quoted extensively from a "confidential draft" of the legislation, drawn up by a conference committee of three state senators and three state representatives. That legislation would override the city's smoking ban in facilities for long-term health care, residential adult care, mental health, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Fumo said. It would also allow smoking in designated areas for sports arenas, performance venues and casinos. "It would be a step backward for the city," Fumo said. Philadelphia Daily News luceyc@phillynews.com Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080514_Editorial__Smoking_Restrictions.html http://tobacco.org/news/265366.html It's a good thing Gov. Rendell threatened to veto a weak statewide smoke-free law that would undercut the strong antismoking health measure already in place in Philadelphia. In doing so, Rendell stood up for the best smoke-free law that Pennsylvania likely will ever see - one that protects 1.4 million Philadelphians and countless visitors to the state's largest city. . . . As the legislature has fiddled for months over a smoke-free law, it has become clear that the General Assembly leaders' main interest is doing the bidding of cigarette companies - not protecting public health. They've even tried to justify lax, one-size-fits-all statewide standards on grounds that smokers would be confused if one town had tougher rules than the next. That's absurd. Of course, there's an easy way to pass a real statewide smoke-law: Just copy the city's law. The governor has sounded the alarm. Now, Mayor Nutter should join him and others like Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.) in rallying the city's Harrisburg delegation to not only protect Philadelphia's smoke-free law, but make it the state model. Philadelphia Inquirer Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19687209&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418218&rfi=6 http://tobacco.org/news/265325.html Before state lawmakers decided to cloud the issue in behalf of very narrow special interests, the vast majority of Pennsylvanians already had made clear their position on a comprehensive smoking ban in public places. At the time the state took up the issue, more than half of Pennsylvanians already lived in jurisdictions with comprehensive indoor smoking bans. Now, a few members of a House/Senate conference committee just can't bring themselves to do the right thing as they cling to their positions in favor of the casino, tavern and tobacco industries. . . . Since the lawmakers can't bring themselves to do the right thing, they should simply pass a bill allowing local governments to enact bans. Then, when the vast majority of Pennsylvanians again are under the smoking bans that they overwhelmingly desire, the Legislature can make it universal, joining most of the civilized world. Scranton Times-Tribune delivery@timesshamrock.com (submitting your comment, you acknowledge that you have read) Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080514/NEWS02/805140397/-1/NEWS http://tobacco.org/news/265321.html A year after Erie County Judge John A. Bozza struck down the county's own smoking ban, state legislators can't agree on a statewide ban. A proposed, compromise ban stalled Monday after Gov. Ed Rendell threatened to veto it because the legislation prevented municipalities from enacting tougher bans. As a result, business owners like Urbanowicz are still free to permit or ban smoking at their respective establishments. "Businesses should be allowed to go smoke-free or not," Urbanowicz said. "It's a choice. If a patron wants to go to a smoke-free restaurant, or go to one where smoking is allowed, they should have that right." Erie Times-News david.bruce@timesnews.com (DAVID BRUCE) Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/yd/local/ci_9255738?source=rss http://tobacco.org/news/265315.html Some members of the York City Council said they would rather see voluntary restrictions on smoking in York City parks than a law banning tobacco use. Under a bill backed by the city administration, the city would post signs warning park users that smoking and smokeless tobacco are not allowed, and violators would be fined $25. The council is scheduled to vote on the ban Tuesday. Councilman Cameron Texter said he abhors smoking but will seek to strike the ban, which he worries will not survive a court challenge. York Dispatch dklimanis@yorkdispatch.com (DAINA KLIMANIS The York Dispatch) Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/OPINION01/805150318/-1/OPINION http://tobacco.org/news/265303.html Erie County needs enabling legislation that would make it possible to pass a smoking ban such as the one it did pass in December 2006, but was later ruled unconstitutional by Erie County Common Pleas Judge John A. Bozza. It now looks like the earliest Erie County could pass a ban would be 2009. The Legislature's refusal to stand up for Pennsylvanians' health and welfare by passing a legitimate smoking ban is sad. Perhaps lawmakers will come to their senses on this issue. If not, we need to start over with new smoking-ban legislation. We can't let this go. Erie Times-News Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.pennlive.com/news/capitol/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1210650009213300.xml&coll=1 http://tobacco.org/news/265272.html A veto threat, backed by opposition from a number of Democratic senators, scuttled the latest attempt Monday to pass a compromise public-places smoking ban. By Monday night, it appeared unlikely that any bill would be considered by the full House and Senate before June. What was widely expected to be a day of grand compromise started to unravel early, when Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, issued a statement calling for lawmakers to reject any bill that would pre-empt Philadelphia's stronger, year-old smoking ordinance. Harrisburg Patriot-News Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08134/881294-114.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265250.html A House-Senate panel had been expected to adopt a compromise bill yesterday outlining which workplaces had to be smoke-free, but Gov. Ed Rendell changed things with just a few words at a news conference. Mr. Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, said he wouldn't sign any statewide smoke-free bill that "pre-empted" Philadelphia's current, restrictive law on smoking. "I have told the legislative leaders that if they send me a bill that is too watered-down, or one that pre-empts what Philadelphia has done, I would veto it," he said. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tbarnes@post-gazette.com (Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau) Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://tobaccofreekids.org/Script/DisplayPressRelease.php3?Display=1079 http://tobacco.org/news/265232.html As a conference committee prepares to meet Monday on smoke-free workplace legislation in Pennsylvania, we urge the committee members, the Legislature and Governor Ed Rendell to enact a strong smoke-free law that covers all workplaces and public places and protects all Pennsylvanians from the deadly dangers of secondhand smoke. It is also critical that the conference committee reject pre-emptive language that would prohibit local governments from enacting stronger smoke-free laws. The conference committee should approve legislation that protects all workers and covers all workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bars and casinos. Any exemptions would send an unacceptable message that some workers' health and lives are less worthy of protection than others. Exemptions would create two classes of workers in Pennsylvania Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08133/881178-100.stm?cmpid=latest.xml http://tobacco.org/news/265176.html Gov. Ed Rendell threw a major wrinkle into deliberations over a new a smoke-free workplace bill today, saying he won't sign any legislation that pre-empts or waters down Philadelphia's current tough law restricting smoking. A six-member House-Senate conference committee was expected to vote on a compromise bill today, but after the governor's announcement only three members attended the meeting and action was postponed again. The compromise bill would not have allowed local communities to enact laws tougher than the state law, which would weaken the Philadelphia law. "If the Legislature sends me a bill that pre-empts what Philadelphia does, I would veto it," Mr. Rendell told reporters. "Philadelphia has taken a strong stand against smoking in public places" and the Legislature shouldn't overrule it, he added. Meanwhile, Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, said this morning that there's a "confidential draft" of a statewide bill that would throw out Philadelphia's smoking ban. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20080512_Rendell_vows_veto_if_state_bill_preempts_Phila__smoking_ban.html http://tobacco.org/news/265146.html Gov. Rendell this morning said he would veto any legislation to ban smoking in public places statewide that would weaken Philadelphia's existing law. "Philadelphia has taken a strong stand to support the public health of its residents, and I will not backtrack on that," Rendell said yesterday. The governor said that if lawmakers propose a plan that would preempt Philadelphia's almost two-year-old ban, "then it won't go into law ... I will veto it." Legislators on a joint House and Senate committee have been trying for months to strike a compromise on the smoking ban issue. This afternoon, the six-member committee yet again delayed a scheduled vote on a proposed ban because it couldn't even muster a quorum of its members. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R., Montgomery), who chairs the committee, said he was "disappointed we are not moving forward," and that it was "obvious there is no final agreement" on the issue. He and others also said that the lawmakers who did not show were apparently trying to negotiate final details of the proposed ban. But Sen. Charles McIlhinney (R. Bucks), one of the committee members, told The Associated Press that Rendell's threat of a veto brought on the delay. The plan committee members were considering would have preempted any local ordinances or laws on smoking, including Philadelphia's. It also would also have provided some exemptions for private clubs, cigar bars and casinos. Philadelphia Inquirer acouloumbis@phillynews.com (Angela Couloumbis INQUIRER HARRISBURG BUREAU) Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT