Smoking ban stalls

Pennsylvanians will have to wait longer for cleaner air and businesses in the Commonwealth…. Pennsylvanians will have to wait longer for cleaner air and businesses in the Commonwealth.

The state legislature’s House Health and Human Services Committee deadlocked on a proposed bill that would ban smoking in most public places like restaurants, museums and workplaces. The Committee produced a 14-14 tie on the bill, which wasn’t enough votes to send the bill to the full House.

Some lawmakers believe the bill shouldn’t be top priority for the legislature, as financial issues such as property taxes and the budget are first on the agenda.

State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Pittsburgh, who cast the deciding vote this week to produce the deadlocked committee, believes the bill is just as important as others in front of the state legislature.

“I think we can’t be singularly focused with the legislative agenda,” he said. “This issue will continually be discussed, and hopefully it will gain support. The committee will meet sometime next week, but this specific bill isn’t on the agenda.”

Some constituents believe it is time for local government to enact smoking laws. Patience is running low for those waiting for the state to act, although, according to Wheatley, “this is a state-wide issue, not a local issue.”

“The state legislature has not moved forward on the issue and the bill didn’t even get out of the committee, so it obviously won’t be enacted any time soon,” said Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department.

Cole said the Board of Health is reluctant to enact a county-wide smoking ban because they still have hope that the state will act first. A local ordinance may damage local businesses in Allegheny County, as patrons could easily cross county lines to smoke in bars and restaurants.

“There is a concern that a smoking regulation in Allegheny County would put local businesses at a disadvantage. That is why the Board of Health would prefer a state-wide initiate first,” he said.

“The public might be losing patience. The Board of Health has deferred action for two years because of the state legislature, but the issue just hasn’t moved forward. We’ve been waiting for the state to act for two years.”

Wheatley remained optimistic about the bill’s future. Unfortunately, Cole and other local citizens and politicians aren’t convinced that the state will come through.

“The Board of Health has waited some time now for the state to act,” Cole said. “In light of that, there is a possibility that the issue of local smoking laws will be raised at the next meeting on July 5.”