Ten state representatives turned their backs on their Democratic roots this week, supporting the cigarette industry and businesses such as bars instead of defending the health of Pennsylvanians.

The 10 Democratic members of the House Health and Human Services Committee, including Nick Kotik of Robinson, voted against a bill that would have banned smoking in nearly every workplace in the state. They were joined by four Republicans, including Mike Diven of Brookline, resulting in a 14-14 tie. That meant the bill could not move out of committee and on to the full House.

That means children will continue to be exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke -- a carcinogen -- when they eat in restaurants. That means waitresses and dishwashers in bars will continue to be exposed to the carcinogen against their will.

It means 10 Democrats chose big business over the health of the state's residents. They chose the cigarette industry and restaurant lobby over Rep. Katie True, a Lancaster Republican, supporter of the bill and cancer survivor. It's one year for her this month.

She pushed the legislation despite the tradition of Republicans opposing regulation of business and despite the fact that tobacco, called Lancaster Leaf, is grown in her district.

She did it before she knew she had cancer. She did it for the same reason that she supports the government forbidding drunken driving. She believes drinkers are free to get drunk at home, but they shouldn't get into a car and endanger other people. Similarly, she believes smokers can puff away in their living rooms, but they don't have the right to endanger the health of nonsmokers -- like her -- who happen to be in restaurants, bingo halls, casinos or working in the same building.

She is right. And the Democrats on the committee who voted against the bill have betrayed the basic party tenets that seek to further people's health and well-being.

The two Democrats who voted for the bill, including Jake Wheatley Jr. of the Hill District, need to explain to their fellow party members that their first allegiance is to the poor, the working class and the voiceless in society -- many of whom suffer the worst effects of tobacco -- not to the tobacco industry.

The advocacy group Smokefree Pennsylvania has branded six of the 10 Democrats with the title "Cigarette Industry Champion," for their consistent votes against public health.

Rep. True says the bill's supporters will try to find a way to bring it back. When that happens, the Democrats -- including those who smoke in a back room in the Capitol -- need to vote to make that illegal.