Smoking battle smolders

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, July, 2007 | by Mario F. Cattabiani Inquirer Staff Writer

HARRISBURG - One of Gov. Rendell's priorities, a statewide smoking ban, remains elusive, and efforts to craft a compromise have polarized the legislature.

The issue has become so divisive that two Democratic representatives, friends no less, nearly came to blows recently.

The failure to get a smoking bill comes at a time when the governor has been able to strike deals for other key parts of his health-care agenda - allowing nurse-practitioners to perform more medical procedures, and enacting policies to reduce hospital-acquired infections.

Unlike many issues in Harrisburg, the smoking ban does not break along partisan lines.

"It's all over the board," said Mike Manzo, chief of staff for House...