HARRISBURG, PA — A recent poll reveals that Pennsylvanians across the state are overwhelmingly in favor of comprehensive smokefree policies, highlighting a robust desire to protect workers and the general public from the harms of secondhand smoke.
Conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, the survey asked registered voters if they would support a law that ensures all workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bars, and casinos, are 100% smokefree indoors. An impressive 75% responded affirmatively, signaling a strong statewide endorsement for such health-centric legislation.
Aimee Van Cleave, Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania, emphasizes the broader implications of these findings, stating, “This data shows that smokefree policies are not only the right thing to do to protect public health but also incredibly popular with Pennsylvanians.”
The broad support transcends geographic and political divides, presenting a clear mandate for legislative action. Van Cleave’s call to action urges lawmakers to pass House Bill 1657, a move aimed at ensuring no worker has to compromise their health for their livelihood.
The push for expanded smokefree environments is further supported by Traci Kennedy of Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, who notes, “This poll affirms what we know to be true, the majority of Pennsylvanians want smokefree air for everyone.”
Kennedy highlights the life-saving potential of smokefree laws and the popularity of such measures among the public, advocating for legislative efforts to close existing loopholes in the Clean Indoor Air Act.
Introduced by Representative Dan Frankel of Allegheny County, House Bill 1657 seeks to address gaps in the 2008 Clean Indoor Air Act, which currently exempts over 1,300 venues, including truck stops, casinos, and
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