Bird’s-Eye View

HARRISBURG - If you want the fastest cup of Starbucks coffee in what I believe is the entire world, come to the shop that’s in the Harrisburg Hilton. Never longer than 90 seconds, even when crowded. Impressive.
Don’t have much time to chat. I have to shortly rush to the Harrisburg train station to catch an […]

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An outstanding human being and fellow political reporter John Micek of the Allentown Morning Call conducted a Q&A with Amy Christie, executive director of the Pennsylvania Tavern Association. The PA Tavern Association vigorously fought against the recently passed smoking ban for fear that mom-and-pop drinking establishments would lose business if their clientele were not permitted to light up. […]

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I don’t get it. The state Senate reversed course just a few moments ago and approved the same smoking ban bill they voted down last week. Today’s vote was 41-9 in favor. Last week’s vote was 31-19 against. The same exemptions (bars and taverns with 20 percent or less revenue from food; cigar bars; private […]

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And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more unpredictable, the state Senate rejected the smoking ban compromise 31-19. The overriding issue was the prohibition in the bill on local municipalilties enacting their own, tougher smoking bans.
This issue has morphed into a significant road block for the proposed smoking ban. Last month, Democratic Gov. […]

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Light it up or snuff it out? House Bill 240, also known as the Clean Indoor Air Act, also known as the proposed smoking ban, is set to be voted on this week by the General Assembly. Scratch my earlier veto prediction because Gov. Ed Rendell is calling on the Legislature to pass it, saying […]

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The Associated Press reported a compromise on the smoking ban:
After two hours of debate, a legislative conference committee voted 5-1 to ban smoking in most workplaces and public spaces, including restaurants, office buildings, bus and train stations and sports arenas.
BUT …
he bill contains a dozen exemptions. They include bars and taverns; tobacco shops; cigar bars; […]

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