Because all of Allegheny County's state senators voted for Pennsylvania's smoking ban legislation, you might think they agree with our longtime stance on that issue, which favors one set of rules statewide.

Think again.

The week before the Senate approved it, the smoking ban bill was rejected by and virtually dead in the Senate because it preserves Philadelphia's pre-existing smoking ban, which is more stringent than the state's, while prohibiting other jurisdictions from having their own, more stringent bans.

What changed? Senate Republican leaders promised that before the end of the session, separate legislation would be considered that would allow such jurisdictions as Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and Scranton to restrict smoking even more than the state ban will.

Gov. Ed Rendell promptly signed the bill, and spokesman Chuck Ardo said he will "enthusiastically support" a stronger ban for Allegheny County.

So before long, Allegheny County businesses that qualify for exceptions to the state ban will be at a competitive disadvantage to such businesses in neighboring counties.

Consider, too, that there's talk of Allegheny County Health Department taking the lead in enforcing the state ban in Allegheny County, yet Westmoreland County, for example, doesn't have a health department. That has to raise questions about uniformity in enforcing the state ban.

Combine that with the Allegheny County drink tax, and it's a wonder that the county's bar and restaurant owners don't just pack up en masse and either change careers or relocate their businesses to Murrysville, Cranberry, Beaver Falls or Washington, Pa.

There are plenty who bemoan what they consider an excessive number of exceptions to the state ban. But it's clear that the interests of smoker-dependent business people among their constituents were not the top priority for Allegheny County's state senators.

And neither was the idea of a level playing field for all businesses statewide. Instead of bringing Philly into line with the rest of the state, Pennsylvania is heading toward a patchwork of rules.

To many, the state ban's exceptions make it a proverbial "half a loaf." To us, the fact that its passage required a side deal that embraces, rather than avoids, a crazy quilt of regulations from one community or county to the next makes it "half-something-elsed."