PA state rep Mario Scavallo wishes to see e-cigs banned in PA public places

[Oliver]

PA State Rep. Mario Scavello - Tobacco Products: Lethal Weapons That Kill from Both Ends, Says Scavello

He is lumping them in with cigarettes and cigars, and needs to be warned off.
Mount Pocono
1431 Pocono Boulevard
Suite 101
Mount Pocono, PA 18344
Phone: (570) 839-0313
Fax: (570) 839-3612


Stroudsburg Office
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce
556 Main Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Phone: 570-420-1168
Fax: 570-420-1169

Harrisburg Office
143 East Wing
House Box 202176
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2176
Phone: (717) 787-7732
Fax: (717) 260-6203

 

[Bill Godshall]

Here's the Harrisburg Patriot article
Indoor smoking ban: Lawmaker says he's been promised a committee vote on his bill | PennLive.com

Now I know why Scavello hasn't returned my phone call since I left a message with his staffer requesting him to call me nearly a month ago, and after I pointed out that Scavello changed his original smokefree workplace bill (due to lobbying by ACS/AHA/ALA) so that it now would also ban e-cig use in all workplaces, and that his May 7 cosponsorship memo falsely claimed that Smokefree Pennsylvania supported his newly crafted bill.

His May 7 cosponsorship memo is at:
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives - House Co-sponsorship Memoranda

The text of HB 1485 is below, but hasn't been posted yet on the PA General Assembly website
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/CSM/2013/0/12722_3402.pdf

 

[Elnroth]

Bill, when I contact the offices of rep Hackett and sen Erickson, should I point out Scavallo's claiming your support, despite your disapproval of this bill. And that he has yet to return your calls on this matter? And direct them to contact you for further information on the topic of electronic cigarettes?

 

[Bill Godshall]

No need to contact Sen. Erickson, as the bill won't advance to the Senate (and Senator Greenleaf's Clean Indoor Air bill would only ban smoking, not e-cigs, in workplaces).

But feel free to let your Rep know that Smokefree Pennsylvania strongly opposes the e-cig usage ban proposed by Scavello.

 

[Elnroth]

Can we have a status update please?

 

[Bill Godshall]

The bill is HB 1485, and has just 12 cosponsors (out of 203 House members)
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS...d=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1485&pn=1973
The Pennsylvania General Assembly

It was referred to the House Human Services Cmte
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Standing Committees List

I've been planning to send a letter to committee members and HB 1485 sponsors letting them know Smokefree Pennsylvania opposes the bill as long as it contain the e-cigarette provisions, and urging an amendment to remove those provisions.

Unfortunately, I've been dealing with dozens of other legislative issues in other states and countries that are more pressing and are far greater threats.

Regardless, even the sponsor acknowledged that he doesn't have nearly enough votes to get the bill approved by the House.

 

[Berylanna]

I assume you can at least get him to take you off the list of approvers! If I tell people they should listen to Smoke Free Pennsylvania I don't want that used against me!