Commemorating the Clean Indoor Air Act on Its Fifth Anniversary

There is little for which I can say "thank you" to the ethically-blind former Governor Ed Rendell, but on this, the fifth anniversary of the Clean Indoor Act, I am grateful to him for having a lasting impact on the quality of life for Pennsylvanians.

Although this legislation remains riddled with cockamamie exemptions which serve to endanger employees of smoking establishments such as casinos, we now enjoy non-toxic smoke-free environments in most public facilities.

How many would like to go back to the days in which individuals smoked in restaurants, stores, and office workplaces?

Would the Clean Indoor Air Act have had a chance of passage with the current composition of the General Assembly and the Governor's Mansion?  I fear not, as I believe the position of the GOP would have been that such legislation is unwelcome government intrusion into our lives.  As one with a strong Libertarian bent, I do not generally relish government intrusion into our lives, but there are times that it is necessary for the greater good.

My State Representative, Republican John Maher, voted against the Clean Indoor Act.  I was in extensive contact with him at the time the legislation was being considered and after its passage.  Maher, a smoker, never embraced it, and to my knowledge, has never expressed regret for his anti-public health vote in opposition. He told me at the time that we should touch base a year after its implementation to evaluate its level of success.  Of course the legislation has succeeded.  It has protected individuals from the danger of first class carcinogen second-hand smoke.  This may not be important to Representative Maher and others of his ilk, but it is important to those that care about public health and public safety, those who believe that there is a role for government in providing such protection to the governed.

To those who would ask why I criticize and belittle the "outstanding gentleman" Representative Maher, I would respond, "I just told you why I challenge him".  Despite talking a good game about acting for the people on the rare occasions that he addresses us, he has consistently failed to vote in the public interest.  A pro-tobacco industry vote, voting for the middle-of-the-night 2005 legislative pay grab, and voting to pad his pension by 50% in Act 9 of 2001, he has been on the wrong side of history.  None of this, I would note, would impact his ability to always carry the strongest endorsement of the Upper Saint Clair Republican Committee, which has a habit of looking the other way when Republicans fail to lead and when they act for the special interest rather than for the public good.

Pennsylvanians should be thankful for the ability to breathe easier today thanks to the Clean Indoor Act.  Its passage and implementation demonstrated that once in a while, albeit after years of delay and obfuscation by the pro-tobacco forces, our government does the right thing.