June 10th, 2008

At our last smoking ban update, the Senate had just rejected the compromise legislation by voting 31-19.  The chamber’s Democrats were unhappy that Philadelphia’s stricter smoking ban already in existence was allowed to remain, via a grandfather clause, but the bans in Scranton and Allegheny County were not upheld.  The bill was victorious in the House, however, approved 133-68.

Since then, several ideas on how to proceed have been in circulation, according to state news source Capitolwire; including just approving the conference report, or taking most of its text out and amending it into another bill then adding the two new carve-outs, or approving the original House bill that led to the conference committee.

Reports the Morning Call:

“The Senate was expected to take a second vote on the bill as early as [yesterday], thanks to a parliamentary maneuver that effectively undid their earlier vote and allowed them to consider the bill anew. But the chamber’s majority Republicans [yesterday] delayed action on the proposal.”

To read about more solutions being considered and how they’re faring, read the entire article by John L. Micek.