Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Predictable, and Proud

WNEP photographer Dave Jones and I were on our way to a story in Tunkhannock yesterday, when we heard a story on the radio about a potential compromise in the state legislature's battle over an anti-smoking law. Dave said "Well, there's tomorrow's blog." As always, Dave was right.



Loyal blog readers will remember that I, along with the majority of Pennsylvania residents, support an anti smoking law. As I've said before, every study says there is no safe level of second hand smoke. Yes, you have a right to smoke. No, you don't have the right to make other people breathe it.



The bill that finally made it out of committee yesterday is severely flawed. Severely. There are far too many exemptions. But, it's better than nothing, and it's clear the legislature isn't interested in going any farther. It's what you get when courage challenged individuals call the shots.



It's not over yet. A spokesman for the governor indicated Mr. Rendell can live with this, but, as we well know, strange things can happen in the legislature.



Stay tuned.