smoking ban

Governor Ed Rendell will be signing the smoking ban on Friday, which means 90 days later the ban will go into effect.  So you have until September 11th to enjoy that cigarette.

Getty Images PhotoHARRISBURG -- The state Senate this evening sent a statewide smoking ban to the governor's desk after more than a year of intense negotiations among the General Assembly's four lawmaking caucuses.

The Senate voted 41-9 to adopt the conference committee report a week after lawmakers rejected it because it did not allow local exemptions in municipalities other than Philadelphia.

The Associated Press is reporting the statewide smoking ban that emerged from conference committee Tuesday has been rejected by the state Senate.

The chamber voted 31-19 against the measure after Democratic senators complained it does not let counties and municipalities enforce their own stronger ordinances.

An indoor smoking ban in Pennsylvania is one step closer to reality today.  A joint House/Senate conference committee today voted 5-1 to pass an indoor smoking ban.  One senate staffer told Inside Edge they expected little resistance to the bill when it went up for a full vote.