Pennsylvania: Momentum builds for state ban on smoking in public workplace

Harrisburg Post-Gazette ^ | October 30th, 2005 | Tracie Mauriello

[Namyak]

HARRISBURG -- Mary Molinaro loves bingo, but it's been ages since she's played.

"They smoke up a storm in those bingos. It gives me a headache," said Mrs. Molinaro, 72, of Glassport.

That's why she's hoping for the passage of legislation that would prohibit smoking in all public workplaces, including restaurants, stores, sports arenas, bars and, yes, bingo halls.

Violators would be subject to fines of up to $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second violation within one year and $500 for subsequent violations in the same year.

Similar bills have been proposed over the last several years, but they've never made it to the floor.

Supporters are encouraged that this legislation seems to have more momentum. It's the first of its kind to go through a public hearing of the Senate's Public Health and Welfare Committee, though a vote, if any, wouldn't happen until next year. A similar bill is under consideration in the House.

Legislators who opposed previous attempts to ban smoking are now reconsidering.

[Namyak]

more big-brother health-nazi insanity, this time in my home state of Pennsylvania. Just my own two-cents, as a man who enjoys cigars when he drinks, the day this passes is the last day I go to a bar. This is getting out of hand.

[RandallFlagg]

Ping-a-roonie.

[mozrock]

NOOOOO!! I never thought it would make it here!

[NRA1995]

What's stopping this woman and others like her from establishing their very own smokeless bingo hall?

[mysterio]

It makes me sad to see the government still make money of the smokers it treats like dirt.

I think people will take just baout anything from government. We won't see another revolution unless they try to ban TV sports and doritos.

[Namyak]

I thought the same thing... smoking is so basic to the bar experience where I'm from (Scranton Area) that it would be economic suicide for any bar to go non-smoking around here; but that ain't stopping the brainless nitwits in Harrisburg from legislating where they have no authority to legislate. Have to justify that pay-raise somehow...

[Namyak]

Nothing but the iron laws of economics... a smokeless bar isn't economically viable without the strong arm of the law leveling down the playing field. Only with the government forcing everyone else to go non-smoking can a smokeless establishment compete.

[philsfan24]

how bout the fake casinos they are building? i bet they wont be smoke free.

[Namyak]

Oh, you mean the casinos that the members of the state legislature can own a stake in? Oh, of course they will be exempted. In fact, I bet they will be the only establishments to be exempted. I wouldn't put it past our fair representatives in Harrisburg to do just that...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Taverns and sportsbar patrons lean Democrat. If such a ban passes expect Fast Eddie and most Dems to get ran out of office. It's happening here in WI and Gov. Doyle is refusing to sign a bill that exempts bars and restaurants from smoking bans.

Either smoking should be banned or it should be left the hell alone. It's time to draw a line in the sand instead of being nickeled and dimed to death!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

the day this passes is the last day I go to a bar.

Yep. These smoking bans are more reasons why people are staying home for entertainment. People can just stay home and drink and smoke all they want (until some busybody tries to ban smoking in homes too)

[Just another Joe]

Man, I hate the nanny state mentality that most govenrment bodies have nowadays.
"It's for the workers.", "It's for the public health.", "It's for the xxxxxxxxxxxxx."

Well, if it's so great why don't bar and restaurant owners go nonsmoking to begin with?

Take my country and make it a socialist worker's paradise. "Oh great Government, give us this day our daily bread"

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gabz]

I hate to tell these people, but these are not "public workplaces" they are private businesses.

When it comes to the zealots in favor of government imposed smoking bans - there are no conservatives and there are no liberals - they are exactly the same - they lose all semblance of th differences between the two and march in lock-step with each other.


(as always, if you want on or off this puff list let me know)

[Gabz]

a smokeless bar isn't economically viable without the strong arm of the law leveling down the playing field. Only with the government forcing everyone else to go non-smoking can a smokeless establishment compete.

One of the most vocal opponents of the smoking ban in Delaware had a very good business with a non-smoking establishment........he knew he would lose his competitive edge with such a ban. he was right - his business tanked as soon as the ban went into effect.

This is idiocy on the part of PA..........there has been a sharp increase in business from Delaware in establishments near the PA/DE state line.

[Gabz]

Oh, you mean the casinos that the members of the state legislature can own a stake in? Oh, of course they will be exempted. In fact, I bet they will be the only establishments to be exempted. I wouldn't put it past our fair representatives in Harrisburg to do just that...

we were expecting the same thing in Delaware, the "racinos," while technically privately owned and operated are semi governmental agents in that all the slot machines are controlled by the State Lottery.

They were not exempted.

[mugs99]

Either smoking should be banned

It is being banned...one small step at a time.
.

[Namyak]

To your two points. I will admit that perhaps I was a little too simplistic when I stated that a non-smoking bar wouldn't be competitive... it could be competitive given the right environment, which the owner in Delaware obviously found; however, I doubt that his business model could be adopted en masse and be just as successful for numerous bars in the same area.

As for your second point about the casinos in Delaware, at least the Delaware Legislature didn't have the audacity to blatantly legislate to favor their own interests, which unfortunately I still doubt the Pennsylvania legislature to do. All you have to do is look at the Pennsylvania government pay-raise debacle to understand my skepticism.

[WakeUpAndVote]

Many Bingo halls here are in fire houses. The majority of them are already non smoking.

If I want to go out to eat, I go to a non smoking restaurant. If someone wants to smoke, fine. There are places that are smoking and places that are non smoking.

We don't need laws for this folks.

Although I have not found a non smoking bar yet.... But then again, this is a workplace issue.

[andyk]

What's stopping this woman and others like her from establishing their very own smokeless bingo hall?

The opportunity to force it on the rest of us?

[an amused spectator]

Violators would be subject to fines of up to $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second violation within one year and $500 for subsequent violations in the same year.

Revenooer alert!

I can envision a new American national sport within a few years:

Violatin'

See how many "violations" you can rack up in a certain length of time. Guinness Book of Records stuff, ya know. ;-)