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Casino smoking exemption snuffed out in Pa. House

HARRISBURG - An effort to add casinos to the list of locations that would be exempted from a proposed statewide smoking ban failed yesterday as the state House of Representatives debated for the third consecutive day how strict to make the legislation.

HARRISBURG - An effort to add casinos to the list of locations that would be exempted from a proposed statewide smoking ban failed yesterday as the state House of Representatives debated for the third consecutive day how strict to make the legislation.

Rep. Timothy Solobay (D., Washington) argued that covering casinos with a ban would hurt their profits, noting that Pennsylvania legalized gambling in part to help reduce homeowners' property taxes.

"We need to let them have local control" over indoor smoking policies, Solobay said.

The amendment was rejected, 137-62, with opponents arguing that allowing smoking in casinos would jeopardize the health of employees.

"We should not be protecting some workers and not others," said Rep. Chris Ross (R., Chester). "We should make this legislation apply as broadly as possible."

On Saturday, the House approved an amendment that would add private, nonprofit clubs to the list of establishments exempted from the ban. Lawmakers are trying to prepare the bill for a final House vote tomorrow. It would then go to the Senate.

Gov. Rendell has called for a statewide smoking ban as part of his broad "Prescription for Pennsylvania" agenda he says will lower the cost of health care, broaden its availability and improve its quality.

The Senate approved a smoking ban on June 26, with many of the same exceptions that were being debated in the House. But Rendell has threatened to veto the Senate's version because it would allow smoking in smaller home day-care settings.