News Release
For Immediate Release
May 14, 2008
Contact:
Aaron Zappia
(215) 657-7700
Senator Greenleaf Calls for Speedy Resolve of Pennsylvania's
Pending Smoke-Free Law
Greenleaf Announces Two Legislative Conference Committee
Meetings, Calls for Conferees to Engage in Full Public Debate
HARRISBURG—Today, speaking from the Senate Floor, Senator
Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-Montgomery / Bucks) stressed the need for a smoke-free
law in Pennsylvania and discussed the progress of the legislative conference
committee appointed to resolve the disputed legislation, decrying the lack of
full participation of all of the conference committee's
members.
Greenleaf, the prime sponsor of the original legislation to ban
smoking in public places and workplaces and the chairman of the conference
committee, cited findings released in the 2006 report of the Surgeon General,
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco
Smoke.
"What's happened over the years is that the scientific and
medical evidence has increased," said Senator Greenleaf. "Under Republican and
Democratic administrations on the federal level, the United States Surgeon
General has come up with a report... That report has revealed that secondhand
smoke is dangerous, and there is no safe degree of exposure… Our most respected
institutions and public health bodies say that."
"…Decades ago, the Environmental Protection Agency designated
asbestos as a class A carcinogen, thereafter they classified secondhand smoke as
a class A carcinogen. So, we're talking about a substance that is the
equivalent to asbestos."
"…We aren't telling the people of Pennsylvania anything they
don't know… The Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco took a poll last year
and revealed that 86 percent of Pennsylvanians agree that bars and restaurants
would be healthier for employees if they were smoke free."
The Senator continued to urge full participation on the part of
committee members, stating that despite 8 meeting held since December, there has
been too little substantive discussion before the public. Three of the past four
public meetings of the conference committee held since April 1st were voted to
recess by the conferees. The last meeting, held on May 12th , was recessed due
to three absent committee members.
"It's important for us in a Democratic society to openly debate
these issues," said Senator Greenleaf. "… Avoiding that public debate will not
resolve this issue. Resolving this issue is getting to that committee meeting
and debating publicly."
"…There should be no more delay. The people of this
Commonwealth demand that we act on this legislation, and I ask that this body
support me in this regard."
Senator Greenleaf announced the following two meetings of the
legislative conference committee:
-
Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in room 8 EB of the
Capitol Building
-
Wednesday, June 4th at 9:00 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the
North Office Building
