by KYW's Tony Romeo
A bill that would ban smoking in many public places is on its way to the floor of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, now that a conference committee has approved a compromise measure.
The compromise smoking ban bill still needs votes in the full House and Senate, but it breaks a months-long stalemate. It will allow, under certain conditions, exemptions for bars, private clubs, and parts of casinos.
It will also allow Philadelphia to keep the smoking ban it already has in place.
That angered Democratic state senator Robert Mellow, who tried and failed to pass an amendment that would have also allowed measures passed by Allegheny County (which includes Pittsburgh) and Scranton to stand:
“We’re singing Kumbaya, saying, ‘Oh, let’s hold hands and get up and everybody jump for joy, but you the people of Allegheny County go to hell!' ”
But state senator Charles McIlhinney (R-Bucks and Montgomery counties) says that at the moment, only Philadelphia’s smoking law would stand up in court:
“We’re allowing a law that is already on the books to continue to be on the books.”
A spokesman says Governor Rendell supports the compromise bill.
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