PA Environment Digest 3/10/08
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Copy of Letter to Administration Re Frack Public Health Study (002).Docx
March 17th, 2021 The Honorable Tom Wolf Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 508 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 RE: Request for Action Dear Governor Wolf, Thank you for your recent support of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s efforts to protect our natural resources and drinking water supply. Please consider this correspondence as a formal request for your immediate action in response to the ongoing harm to the public’s health and well-being due to hydraulic fracturing. On March 4, 2021, the Environmental Health News published the results of an illuminating investigation that links hydraulic fracturing operations and exposure to toxic chemicals. This pilot study included five families residing in Westmoreland and Washington Counties, all living within miles of multiple hydraulic fracturing wells, pipelines, and compressor stations. Each family was monitored over 9 weeks through scientific data collection of urine, air, and water sampling. These samples were then analyzed using the best available technology to look for forty of the most common chemicals found in the emissions from fracking sites. The initial outcomes are alarming in terms of the effects on the long-term health and safety of these residents. Benzene and butylcyclohexane were among the chemicals found in both the drinking water and air samples. Breakdown products for the chemicals ethylbenzene, styrene, and toluene were found in the bodies of children living near fracking operations. For example, a nine-year-old participant showed levels of these harmful chemicals up to ninety-one times as high as the average American and substantially higher than levels seen in the average adult cigarette smoker. -
Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission 05 February 2021 at 10:00 AM Virtual Meeting
Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission 05 February 2021 at 10:00 AM Virtual Meeting 1000 (5) CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sam Petrovich Moment of Silence Vice-Chairman Nick Taylor Pledge of Allegiance Chairman Sam Petrovich 1005 (5) Commission Introduction Chairman Sam Petrovich 1010 (3) Oath of Office MG Mark Schindler Robert Forbes- AMVETS 1013 (3) Approval of 4 December meeting minutes REQUIRES A VOTE 1016 (10) DMVA Military Update MG Mark Schindler 1026 (15) VISN 4 Mr. Tim Liezert OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS 1041 (5) DMVA, Policy, Planning & Legislative Affairs Mr. Seth Benge 1046 (10) DMVA, Bureau of Veterans Homes Mr. Rich Adams 1056 (10) DMVA, Bureau of Programs, Initiatives, Reintegration and Outreach (PIRO) Mr. Joel Mutschler SC 1106 (4) Approval of Programs Report (Report provided by DMVA) REQUIRES A VOTE 1110 (5) Act 66 Committee report Mr. Anthony Jorgenson 1115 (5) RETX Committee report Mr. Justin Slep 1120 (5) Legislative Committee report Chairman Sam Petrovich 1125 (5) Pensions & Relief/Grave markings Committee report Ms. Connie Snavely 1135 (10) Member-at-Large Committee Chairman Sam Petrovich 1145 (10) Good of the Order Chairman Sam Petrovich 1155 (5) Next Meeting: April 2, 2021 Webex Virtual 1200 ADJOURNMENT Chairman Sam Petrovich RETIRING OF COLORS Chairman Sam Petrovich State Veterans Commission Meeting Minutes December 4, 2020 10:00 AM to 11:48 AM Webex Video Teleconference Call to Order Chairman Samuel Petrovich The Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission (SVC) meeting was called to order at 10:00 AM by Chairman Samuel Petrovich. Moment of Silence and Pledge of Allegiance The meeting was opened with a moment of silence for the upcoming 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairman Samuel Petrovich. -
018 Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard 3
PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL 2017/2018 SCORECARD 2017/2018 PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 3 THE PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL For the first time this year our organizations included innocent-seeming phrase that can cover a multitude SCORECARD IS A JOINT PROJECT a lifetime score for each legislator. This score reflects of bad actions. The 2018 regulatory reform legislative PENNSYLVANIA OF CONSERVATION VOTERS OF PA, their pro-environment votes going back to the package included several bills designed to completely PENNENVIRONMENT, SIERRA CLUB 2007/2008 legislative session. While this may only disrupt the ability of the Department of Environmental FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR: PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER, AND CLEAN reflect a portion of the careers of long-standing Protection to do its job protecting the residents of the ConservationPA.org/Legislator ENVIRONMENTAL WATER ACTION. legislators and will be less relevant for recently Commonwealth. elected lawmakers, the lifetime score will help give VIEW PAST SCORECARDS: The 2017/2018 session also included bills designed to Our organizations believe that democracy works best context to each legislator’s position on environmental 2017/2018 ConservationPA.org/PastScorecards roll back environmental protections around oil and SCORECARD when the public is informed about crucial decisions issues over time. that affect them and our environment—and can use that gas drilling to where they were in 1984. It included information to engage their elected leaders and hold It should be noted that a number of Republican bills designed to interfere with the current ban on them accountable. legislators earned especially high scores this cycle. fracking in the Delaware River Basin, from which 15 Conservation and environmentalism began as and million Pennsylvanians get their drinking water, and to PARTICIPATING Towards these goals, our organizations collaborate continue to be bipartisan areas of concern. -
Curr PA 10.24.18A (1).Pdf
pennsylvania currents Fall 2018 • The Clean Water Action Newsletter What’s at Stake in the 2018 Elections? Over the past two years, almost every major clean water protection, including the Clean Water Act, has been under assault by the federal government. And the November elections represent a chance for voters to let their elected representatives know their views on these attacks. And with state legislators in Harrisburg trying to outdo Washington in deregulating the oil and gas industry, who gets elected to Harrisburg matters more than ever. In 2018, there has been a real groundswell of candidates who have strong records of making environmental protection a priority at both the state and federal levels. Voters can ensure that representatives who will champion clean water and a healthy planet get elected. Top of the Ticket: Bob Casey for U.S. Senate and Tom Wolf for Governor Clean Water Action has endorsed Bob Casey for U.S. Senate and Tom Wolf for Governor in recognition of their strong records in support of environmental protection. Casey introduced the FRAC Act in the Senate to close the Halliburton Loophole, which has allowed oil and gas companies to hide from the public the toxic chemicals they are releasing. And since Trump’s election, Casey has been outspoken on the many anti-environmental actions by Trump and Scott Pruitt and Andrew Wheeler at EPA. By contrast Casey’s opponent, Lou Barletta, has an abysmal 0% environmental voting score as a member of the U.S. House. Bob Casey As Governor, Tom Wolf has voted for a permanent ban on fracking in the Delaware watershed, established a first ever reduction in methane emissions from gas wells and pipelines, and expanded state regulations on fracking, including a ban on open air frack pits which has been a major contamination source throughout the state. -
November 7, 2018 Pennsylvania Was One of the Most Closely Watched
Keep up to date with our blog: Follow us on Twitter @BuchananGov knowingGovernmentRelations.com November 7, 2018 Pennsylvania was one of the most closely watched states in the country on Election Day. Redistricting of Congressional seats meant a shakeup was coming for the Commonwealth’s 18-member delegation. At the statewide level, the Governor and one of two U.S. Senators were on the ballot. In the state legislature, half of the 50 Senate seats (even- numbered districts) and the entire 203-seat House of Representatives were up for grabs. During the 2017-18 legislative session the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was comprised of 121 Republicans and 82 Democrats. After last night’s election, the 2018-19 legislative session will have 109 Republicans and 94 Democrats, after the Democrats picked up 11 seats. In the Pennsylvania Senate, Republicans had a majority during the 2017-18 by a margin of 34-16. Yesterday, Senate Democrats picked up 5 seats, narrowing the Republican’s majority. Next session will have 29 Republican members and 21 Democratic members. The 18-member Pennsylvania delegation had only 6 Democrats during the 115th Congress (2017-19). When new members are sworn into the 116th Congress next year, Pennsylvania’s delegation will be split, with 9 Republicans and 9 Democrats. Governor Governor Tom Wolf (D) and his running mate for Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman (D) defeated the ticket of Scott Wagner (R) and Jeff Bartos (R). Wolf received 2,799,1559 votes (57.66%), while Wagner got 1,981,027 votes (40.81%). U.S. Senate Senator Bob Casey (D) defeated Lou Barletta (R) by a margin of over half a million votes. -
2021-2022 Members of the PA Senate
Senate County 2019-2020 Senator 2021-2022 Senator District 1 Philadelphia Larry Farnese Nikil Saval 2 Philadelphia Christine Tartaglione Christine Tartaglione 3 Philadelphia Sharif Street Sharif Street 4 Montgomery, Philadelphia Arthur Haywood Arthur Haywood 5 Philadelphia John Sabatina John Sabatina 6 Bucks Robert Tomlinson Robert Tomlinson 7 Montgomery, Philadelphia Vince Hughes Vince Hughes 8 Delaware, Philadelphia Anthony Williams Anthony Williams 9 Chester, Delaware Tom Killion* John Kane 10 Bucks Steve Santarsiero Steve Santarsiero 11 Berks Judy Schwank* Judy Schwank* 12 Bucks, Montgomery Maria Collett Maria Collett 13 Lancaster Scott Martin* Scott Martin* 14 Carbon, Luzerne John Yudichak John Yudichak 15 Dauphin, Perry John DiSanto John DiSanto 16 Lehigh Pat Browne Pat Browne 17 Delaware, Montgomery Daylin Leach Amanda Cappelletti 18 Lehigh, Northampton Lisa Boscola Lisa Boscola 19 Chester Andrew Dinniman* Carolyn Comitta 20 Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming Lisa Baker Lisa Baker 21 Butler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren Scott Hutchinson Scott Hutchinson 22 Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe John Blake John Blake 23 Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union Gene Yaw* Gene Yaw* 24 Berks, Bucks, Montgomery Bob Mensch Bob Mensch 25 Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga Joe Scarnati Cris Dush 26 Chester, Delaware Timothy Kearney Timothy Kearney 27 Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder John Gordner John Gordner 28 York Kristin Phillips-Hill Kristin Phillips-Hill 29 Berks, Schuylkill -
Candidate Listing - Post Primary 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 11/08/2016 (GENERAL ) DATE/TIME : 8/23/2016 11:35:02 AM Page 1 of 31
PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF COMMISSIONS, ELECTIONS AND LEGISLATION DEPARTMENT OF STATE POST PRIMARY Candidate Listing - Post Primary 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 11/08/2016 (GENERAL ) DATE/TIME : 8/23/2016 11:35:02 AM Page 1 of 31 Candidate ID Party Candidate Name Address City Zip County PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES --Statewide 2016C0483 DEM HILLARY CLINTON 15 OLD HOUSE LN CHAPPAQUA NY - VICE-PRESIDENT: TIM KAINE(2016C1276) 2016C1052 REP DONALD J TRUMP 721 FIFTH AVE PH NEW YORK NY 10022- VICE-PRESIDENT: MICHAEL R PENCE(2016C1241) 2016C1260 CON DARRELL L CASTLE 2586 HOCKSETT COVE GERMANTOWN TN 38139- VICE-PRESIDENT: SCOTT N. BRADLEY(2016C1261) 2016C1253 GRN JILL STEIN 17 TROTTING HORSE DR LEXINGTON MA 11111- VICE-PRESIDENT: AJAMU BARAKA(2016C1274) 2016C1277 LIB GARY JOHNSON 850 C CAMINO CHAMISA SANTE FE NM 87501- VICE-PRESIDENT: WILLIAM WELD(2016C1278) UNITED STATES SENATOR --Statewide 2016C0872 DEM KATIE MCGINTY PO BOX 22447 PHILADELPHIA PA 19110 CHESTER 2016C0404 REP PAT TOOMEY 1180 WELSH ROAD, STE. 100 NORTH WALES PA 19454- LEHIGH 2016C1246 LIB EDWARD T CLIFFORD, III 23 HARMIL ROAD BROOMALL PA 19008- DELAWARE ATTORNEY GENERAL --Statewide 2016C0749 DEM JOSH SHAPIRO 1550 CLOVERLY LN JENKINTOWN PA 19046- MONTGOMERY 2016C0453 REP JOHN RAFFERTY 4 CULP ROAD AUDUBON PA 19403-2030 MONTGOMERY AUDITOR GENERAL --Statewide 2016C0183 DEM EUGENE A DEPASQUALE 1560 WEST PRINCESS STREET YORK PA 17404- YORK 2016C0446 REP JOHN BROWN 500 S 7TH STREET BANGOR PA 18013-2441 NORTHAMPTON PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF COMMISSIONS, ELECTIONS AND LEGISLATION DEPARTMENT OF STATE POST PRIMARY Candidate Listing - Post Primary 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 11/08/2016 (GENERAL ) DATE/TIME : 8/23/2016 11:35:02 AM Page 2 of 31 Candidate ID Party Candidate Name Address City Zip County 2016C1255 GRN JOHN J. -
A Fair Share Tax to Support Public Investment in Pennsylvania
A Fair Share Tax to Support Public Investment in Pennsylvania 412 N. 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17101 • www.pennbpc.org • 717-255-7156 By Marc Stier and Diana Polson1 April 15, 2019 Executive Summary This paper puts forward the Fair Share Tax plan, a major step toward fixing Pennsylvania’s broken tax system and raising the revenues we need to invest in the public goods that are critical to creating thriving communities and individual opportunity in our state: education, infrastructure, protection for our air and water, and human services. • The Fair Share Tax divides our Personal Income Tax into two new taxes: 1) a tax on wages and interest and 2) a tax on income from wealth (dividends; net income from a business, profession, or farm; capital gains; net income from rents, royalties, patents, and copyrights; gambling and lottery winnings; and income from estates or trusts.) • The Fair Share Tax increases the tax on income from wealth from 3.07% to 6.5% and decreases the tax on wages and interest from 3.07% to 2.8%. • Under the Fair Share Tax, 47% of taxpayers will see their taxes go down, 35% will see no change in their taxes, and only 18% will see their taxes go up. • The Fair Share Tax brings in $2.2 billion in new revenue, 80% of which comes from the richest fifth of Pennsylvania taxpayers and 16% of which comes from out-of-state taxpayers. This means that only a tiny 4% of the additional revenue comes from the bottom four-fifth of Pennsylvania taxpayers. -
February 8, 2021 Dear Governor Wolf: in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Your Office Announced a Reprieve Program in April T
February 8, 2021 The Honorable Tom Wolf Governor of Pennsylvania 508 Main Capital Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 Dear Governor Wolf: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, your office announced a reprieve program in April to prevent the prison sentences served by those who are incarcerated from becoming unintended death sentences. We appreciate your leadership in acting swiftly to mitigate the spread of an unknown and acute disease within our correctional facilities. Unfortunately, your executive action – originally intended to release more than 1,200 people – has only resulted in 159 releases. Since that time the virus has become more dangerous and a greater threat to our communities. A growing volume of reporting has made clear the worsening conditions within our correctional facilities. While your initial action to offer reprieve was prudent and lifesaving, the death count reported by the Department of Corrections now exceeds one per day. A person’s fundamental right to be safe and free from disease does not stop at the prison wall. At the end of 2020, a total of 84 inmates had died because of the virus. Of those who had died, more than 90% were 50+ years old, consistent with reports of the virus being most deadly for those who are elderly and those with comorbidities like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory illness, hypertension, and cancer. In the first 20 days of 2021, at least 27 people incarcerated in Pennsylvania’s state prisons and two staff members died of coronavirus. This exceeds the total number of fatalities in prisons between March and November of 2020. -
Fair Share Tax Report
A Fair Share Tax to Support Public Investment in Pennsylvania By Marc Stier1 March 22, 2017 1 While Marc Stier wrote the text, Stephen Herzenberg and Mark Price initially developed the ideas in the paper and provided the first analysis of it We are very much indebted to Aidan Davis of the Institute for Tax and Economic Policy for her work in analyzing the impact of the Fair Share Tax and to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for the data we use in this paper to evaluate it. Executive Summary This paper puts forward a plan, which we call the Fair Share Tax, that would take a major step toward fixing Pennsylvania’s broken tax system and raise the revenues we need to invest in the public goods that are critical to creating thriving communities and individual opportunity in our state: education, infrastructure, protection for our air and water, and human services. • The Fair Share Tax divides our Personal Income Tax into two parts: 1.) a tax on wages and interest, and 2.) a tax on income from wealth (dividends; net income [from a business, profession, or farm]; capital gains; net income from rents, royalties, patents, and copyrights; gambling and lottery winnings; and income from estates or trusts.) • The Fair Share Tax increases the tax on income from wealth from 3.07% to 6.5% and decreases the tax on wages and interest from 3.07% to 2.8%. • Under the Fair Share Tax, 58.3% of taxpayers will see their taxes go down, 26.2% will see no change in their taxes, and only 15.4% will see their taxes go up. -
Capitol Recap
Capitol Recap AROUND THE ROTUNDA Volume 5 Number 413 PLS coverage of Capitol events including press conferences, bill signings, & media availabilities September 25, 2018 CONTENTS DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILLS AROUND THE ROTUNDA 1 By Robert Cochran Pennsylvania Legislative Services | September 25, 2018 COMMITTEE NEWS 7 NEW LEGISLATION 38 Democrats held a press conference this morning to announce a package of bills aimed at LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 41 providing numerous criminal justice reforms in the commonwealth. UPCOMING MEETINGS 69 Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said Democrats plan to introduce legislation to begin SESSION STATUS healing the fractured relationship between law enforcement and communities across the At 6:17 p.m. on Tuesday, commonwealth. Sen Costa stated the commonwealth needs to develop training programs, September 25, 2018 policies and oversight systems to prevent unnecessary deadly force from happening and the Senate stands in to investigate properly when events do happen to deliver justice to victims and police. “Our recess until Wednesday, ultimate goal is to prevent scenarios where police are put into a situation where they feel September 26, 2018 at their lives our threatened or when police take the lives of individuals who are innocent,” Sen. 11:00 a.m., unless sooner Costa said. recalled by the President Pro Tempore. Sen. Costa indicated that upcoming legislation intends to do the following: • Improve training to municipal police officers to include diversity and sensitivity At 5:13 p.m. on Tuesday, -
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senate of Pennsylvania August 27, 2021 The Honorable Max Baer The Honorable Thomas Saylor Chief Justice Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue 601 Commonwealth Avenue Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 The Honorable Debra Todd The Honorable Christine Donohue Justice Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue 601 Commonwealth Avenue Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 The Honorable Kevin Dougherty The Honorable David Wecht Justice Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue 601 Commonwealth Avenue Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 The Honorable Sally Updyke Mundy Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Judicial Center 601 Commonwealth Avenue Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17106 Dear Justices of the Supreme Court: We are writing to request the court take action to halt evictions for those individuals who have applied for one of the emergency rental assistance programs but the submitted application has not yet been reviewed. As you may be aware, Congress has appropriated more than $1.5 billion in emergency rental assistance to the Commonwealth to address rent and utility delinquencies created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court recently invalidated the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) eviction moratorium. Very few counties had a rental assistance program ready for the sudden influx of money for emergency rental assistance from the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan. The lack of existing programs required counties to build new programs before assistance could begin flowing to landlords and tenants.