Rendell Threatens Veto on Weakened Smoking Bill

May 13th, 2008, posted by Greg Palmer

A House-Senate panel had been expected to adopt a compromise bill yesterday outlining which workplaces had to be smoke-free, but Gov. Ed Rendell changed things with just a few words at a news conference.

Mr. Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, said he wouldn’t sign any statewide smoke-free bill that “pre-empted” Philadelphia’s current, restrictive law on smoking.

“I have told the legislative leaders that if they send me a bill that is too watered-down, or one that pre-empts what Philadelphia has done, I would veto it,” he said.

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Around the Capitol

Reminds me of Bill Clinton's 1994 State of the Union Address

On May 13th, 2008 Anonymous said:

I want to make this very clear. I am open, as I have said repeatedly, to the best ideas of concerned Members of both parties. I have no special brief for any specific approach, even in our own bill, except this: If you send me legislation that does not guarantee every American private health insurance that can never be taken away, you will force me to take this pen, veto the legislation, and we’ll come right back here and start all over again.

Congress obliged by not sending him ANY legislation regarding health care reform. Rendell may get more of the same: nothing, because he has made the perfect the enemy of the good.

The Good?

On May 13th, 2008 Greg Palmer said:

The good? Is that legislature? Because that’s not exactly the word I’d use for them…

You can’t make

On May 13th, 2008 Anonymous said:

You can’t make self-righteous people happy no matter how many laws you pass.
They always want more evehn controls to make things “better”.
They are so much smarter. Righter. More sensitive.

Are you describing yourself?

On May 13th, 2008 Anonymous said:

“Self-righteous, smarter, Righter, More sensitive.” Are you describing yourself?

There will never be a bill to veto!

On May 13th, 2008 faudi said:

With our spineless legislators, there will never be a bill banning indoor smoking. Rendell will never get a chance to veto anything. Our legislators sure don’t want to offend anyone which will cost them votes in future elections. They don’t seem to care about scientific facts or the health of workers if it requires them to take action that could cost votes.