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4/1/08 Smoking Ban Action Alert!
by 15211Advocate ~ March 29th, 2008. Filed under: Business, Community, Events.Our good friend Greg Hartley of NoSmokeDining.org sent out an email today breaking down the smoking ban issue. Check it out and take action!
Action Alert
Deadline: Monday, March 31Next Tuesday (April 1) at 9:00 am, the six-member Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act (SB 246) Conference Committee is scheduled to consider (and very likely determine) legislation that could regulate workplace smoking in PA for years to come.
Please contact four members of the Conference Committee (listed below) BEFORE TUESDAY, urging them to let local governments protect workers from tobacco smoke pollution (i.e. No Preemption of stronger local ordinances).
The state law should be the minimum, not the maximum, for protecting employee health. Senator Stewart Greenleaf and Representative Michael Gerber (two smokefree champions on the Conference Committee) have already indicated their support for allowing local governments to enact stronger smokefree ordinances than state law.
The Conference Committee almost certainly will exempt membership organizations (e.g. VFWs, American Legions, country clubs, Elks, Moose, ethnic clubs, etc.), some bars, the floors of slot casinos, cigar bars, and workplaces exempted in the original version of SB 246.
Thus, the most important policy issue to be determined by the Conference Committee is whether PA will protect the revenues and profits of out-of-state cigarette companies by preempting local governments from enacting more protective smokefree ordinances than state law.
The following quotes by Tina Wall in a 1994 internal Philip Morris (PM) presentation at http://www.pmdocs.com/PDF/2062340066_0089_0.PDF explain why the chief legislative goal for PM (and other cigarette companies) has been to enact state smoking laws that preempt more protective local smokefree ordinances. It also should be noted the James Lemperes has been a Philip Morris lobbyist in PA for most (if not all) of the past two decades.
Cigarette lobbyists deployed this same preemption strategy in PA in 1988 when they drafted (and coalesced support for) the PA Clean Indoor Air Act, which protects ZERO workers from tobacco smoke pollution and preempts all local governments in PA (except Philadelphia) from enacting smokefree workplace ordinances.
Greg Hartley, Assistant Director
SmokeFree Pennsylvania
www.NoSmokeDining.org
412-445-5570Contact info:
Senator Charles T. McIlhinney, Jr.
187 Main Capitol
Senate Box 203010
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3010
717-787-7305
FAX 717-783-5962
cmcilhinney@pasen.govSenator Robert J. Mellow
535 Main Capitol Building
Senate Box 203022
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3022
717-787-6481
FAX 717-783-5198
mellow@pasenate.comRepresentative Robert E. Belfanti, Jr.
30 East Wing
PO Box 202107
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2107
(717) 787-5780
Fax: (717) 787-5763
rbelfanti@pahouse.netRepresentative Ron Miller
111 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202093
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2093
(717) 783-8389
Fax: (717) 705-2095
rmiller@pahousegop.com
I know we have a lot of support for the smoking ban in Mt. Washington. Let’s all make a difference and do all we can to make this bill pass. Call your representative today and tell them you’re a fan of the ban!!!!
March 30th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Our condolences to Len Semplice, owner of Redbeard’s and the eagerly anticipated Packs and Dogs, who lost his father this weekend.
March 31st, 2008 at 6:25 am
MG,
Thank you for posting this information. I’d like to encourage everyone to send a quick email today to the addresses listed above. It will only take a few minutes of your time. Smoking kills. Including second hand smoke. PLEASE do your part to help make our restaurants a safer environment.
Kim
March 31st, 2008 at 8:11 am
I just sent my emails. Wish we could do more to make sure there is no preemption. We passed the smoking ban last year and I’m sure the county would do it again if allowed. It’s the most important part of this bill. Make sure you mention that in your messages.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I am on the other side of this issue, I am a non-smoker, but do not want the state regulating smoking. I am a Libertarian, and therefor do not approve of state regulation (in most cases). I believe in letting business owners decide on their own. I have let my legislators know my position on the issue, and want BOTH sides to be heard. Afterall, that is what makes America great.
Also, I have seen too many studies that show no health risk from second hand smoke to buy into the issue. Cigarette smoke has never bothered me not even while eating, so I really don’t understand the need for legislative action. Maybe y’all see it differently, but that is your right.