DOCSLIB.ORG

Pennenvironment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pennenvironment PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 2019–2020 VIEW OUR DIGITAL SCORECARD: PENNSYLVANIA ConservationPA.org/Scorecard FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR: ENVIRONMENTAL ConservationPA.org/Legislator VIEW PAST SCORECARDS: SCORECARD 2019–2020 ConservationPA.org/PastScorecards PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS CONSERVATION VOTERS CLEAN WATER ACTION PENNENVIRONMENT SIERRA CLUB OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER CleanWaterAction.org/PA PennEnvironment.org ConservationPA.org Facebook.com/CleanWaterAction [email protected] Pennsylvania.SierraClub.org [email protected] Twitter.com/CleanH20PA Facebook.com/PennEnvironment Facebook.com/PASierraClub Facebook.com/ConservationPA Instagram.com/CleanH2OAction Twitter.com/PennEnvironment Twitter.com/SierraClubPA Twitter.com/ConservationPA 412.765.3053 Instagram.com/PennEnvironment 717.232.0101 Instagram.com/ConservationVotersPA Myron Arnowitt, State Director 215.732.5897 Tom Torres, Chapter Director 215.564.3350 Steve Hvozdovich, Pennsylvania David Masur, Executive Director Jen Quinn, Legislative and Josh McNeil, Executive Director Campaigns Director Ashleigh Deemer, Deputy Director Political Director Katie Blume, Political Director 2019–2020 PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE VOTES ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD 3 THE PENNSYLVANIA Too often, the general public does The 2019-2020 legislature was marked In perhaps its most egregious move ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD not know about the environmental by an influx of 49 new legislators, of the session, at the height of the attacks that take place each session in COVID-19 and economic crises, both IS A JOINT PROJECT OF including a record number of women the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Our and environmental champions. chambers passed a bill providing CONSERVATION VOTERS OF organizations believe that democracy They brought fresh and critical voices hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer PA, CLEAN WATER ACTION, works best when the electorate to fights around water contamination funded giveaways to some of the world’s PENNENVIRONMENT, AND SIERRA understands the crucial legislation that from lead, air pollution caused by largest and wealthiest corporations to CLUB PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER. impacts our families, our air, our water, methane and carbon emissions, and the build petrochemical plants, incentivizing and our health, and uses that information many other environmental issues facing more fracking and plastics pollution. Pennsylvania’s constitution guarantees to engage their elected officials and hold Pennsylvania. That growing bloc of After vetoing the initial effort, Governor our right to a clean and healthy those leaders accountable. environmental legislators succeeded in Wolf negotiated a backroom deal to environment, yet our Commonwealth defending against dozens of attacks on revive this policy as part of legislation ranks as the third-highest emitter of Towards these goals, our organizations our existing environmental laws, however that would reduce financial burdens on climate pollution in the nation and has present the 2019-2020 Pennsylvania anti-environmental leadership in both volunteer service providers, like EMS, the third-highest rate of cancer. Our Environmental Scorecard, which compiles the House and Senate made it difficult to fire, and rescue companies, putting rates of lung diseases like asthma remain the most crucial environmental votes that pass any new, pro-environmental policies. many legislators in the difficult position far above the national average. Many the Pennsylvania General Assembly took of choosing to vote for the environment of our counties rank among the worst during the current legislative session. The majority of the votes scored in the or for first responders. Environmental communities in America for air pollution To compile this list, our organizations Pennsylvania House of Representatives champions in both chambers attempted and more than a third of our lakes and worked with dozens of other centered on the recurring and misleading to amend this legislation to minimize a fifth of our streams are considered environmental advocates, activists, and idea of “regulatory reform.” The real goal its environmental impacts, but in the greatly impaired. PFAS chemicals and leaders to ensure that we are reviewing of these bills was to inject politics into an end, far too many legislators voted for fracking pose existential threats to our and scoring the most important and environmental regulatory process that is these bills. water and the families that rely on it. highly watched environmental votes. currently based on science. If all of these Our schools, homes, and hospitals are bills had become law, any single legislator The 2019-2020 legislative session often in the projected blast zone of gas Prior to each vote, our organizations would have had the power to unilaterally was bad, but could have been much pipelines and oil trains. On top of all work together to make sure that block any needed environmental worse. It was Pennsylvanians, armed of those threats to our health, in 2020 legislators understand the environmental regulation. The House also voted to block with the knowledge of their legislators’ our Commonwealth faced the COVID- impacts of the legislation in question Pennsylvania’s ability to reduce carbon actions and willing to step up and fight 19 pandemic, a disease exacerbated by and know how to best cast their votes emissions by joining the successful for a cleaner future, who stopped the asthma and lung disease. And as always, for the environment. This includes direct Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, worst bills and set the stage for real these threats fall disproportionately conversations with legislators and their meanwhile bailing out the struggling progress in the next session. We hope on the Black, Brown and low-income staff, calls and emails from the members petrochemical industry with hundreds that this scorecard becomes another communities often forced to live next of our organizations and the general of millions of dollars in tax credits. tool that they can use to create a door to the worst sources of pollution. public, position papers explaining the better Pennsylvania. legislation in question, and other modes The majority of the votes scored in the Rather than dealing with those myriad of communication. Pennsylvania State Senate dealt with issues, the Pennsylvania General making it easier for the oil and gas Assembly instead spent the last two A lifetime score was also given for each industry to operate in the state. This years seeking to derail the agencies that legislator. This score reflects their pro- included dangerous bills to rollback protect our environment and health, to environment voting record going back to regulations for conventional oil and gas promote and incentivize more fracking the 2007-2008 legislative session. operations to outdated standards from and more plastic, and to roll back or This adds greater context to each the 1980s and to significantly weaken the eliminate vital environmental laws legislator’s position on environmental Clean Streams Law by altering what is and regulations. issues over time. legally considered “pollution.” HOUSE VOTES 4 FACTS & FIGURES HOUSE AVERAGE SCORES: 83% DEMOCRATS 3% REPUBLICANS 40% ENTIRE STATE HOUSE HOUSE FIRST TERM LEGISLATOR AVERAGES: 92% DEMOCRATS 4% REPUBLICANS 49% ALL FIRST TERM LEGISLATORS HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS These legislators scored 100% during the 2019/2020 legislative session Matt Bradford (D-70) Bob Freeman (D-136) Steve McCarter (D-154) Brian Sims (D-182) Dan Williams (D-74) Tim Briggs (D-149) Liz Hanbidge (D-61) Danielle Friel Otten (D-155) Jared Solomon (D-202) Mike Zabel (D-163) Carolyn Comitta (D-156) Kristine Howard (D-167) Chris Rabb (D-200) Mike Sturla (D-96) Mary Jo Daley (D-148) Sara Innamorato (D-21) Steve Samuelson (D-135) Wendy Ullman (D-143) Pam DeLissio (D-149) Mary Isaacson (D-175) Ben Sanchez (D-153) Greg Vitali (D-166) Elizabeth Fiedler (D-184) Leanne Krueger (D-161) Christina Sappey (D-158) Perry Warren (D-31) Dan Frankel (D-23) Summer Lee (D-34) Melissa Shusterman (D-157) Joe Webster (D-150) HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL LOW SCORES These legislators scored 0% during the 2019/2020 legislative session Kerry Benninghoff (R-171) Matt Dowling (R-51) Sue Helm (R-104) Zach Mako (R-183) Jason Ortitay (R-46) Stan Saylor (R-94) Aaron Bernstine (R-10) George Dunbar (R-56) Johnathan Hershey (R-82) David Maloney (R-130) Clint Owlett (R-68) Lou Schmitt (R-79) Timothy Bonner (R-8) Cris Dush (R-66) Dave Hickernell (R-98) Jim Marshall (R-14) Mike Peifer (R-139) Justin Simmons (R-131) Stephanie Borowicz (R-76) Torren Ecker (R-193) Rich Irvin (R-81) Kurt Masser (R-107) Tina Pickett (R-110) Curt Sonney (R-4) Bob Brooks (R-54) Joe Emrick (R-137) Lee James (R-64) Daryl Metcalfe (R12) Michael Puskaric (R-39) Craig Staats (R-145) Rosemary Brown (R-189) Garth Everett (R-84) Mike Jones (R-93) Carl Metzgar (R-69) Jeff Pyle (R-60) James Struzzi (R-62) Martin Causer (R-67) Mindy Fee (R-37) Barry Jozwiak (R-5) Natalie Mihalek (R-40) Jack Rader (R-176) Mike Tobash (R-125) Bud Cook (R-49) Jonathan Fritz (R-111) Josh Kail (R-15) David Millard (R-109) Kathy Rapp (R-65) Marcy Toepel (R-147) Jim Cox (R-129) Matt Gabler (R-75) Rob Kauffman (R-89) Brett Miller (R-41) Mike Reese (R-59) Tarah Toohil (R-116) Lynda Culver (R-108) Valerie Gaydos (R-44) Dawn Keefer (R-92) Lori Mizgorski (R-30) Jim Rigby (R-71) Jesse Topper (R-78) Bryan Cutler (R-100) Barbara Gleim (R-199) Mark Keller (R-86) Dan Moul (R-91) Brad Roae (R-6) Mike Turzai (R-28) Eric Davanzo (R-58) Jim Gregory
Load more

Recommended publications
  • February 15, 2021 Dear Governor Wolf
    February 15, 2021 Dear Governor Wolf: CompetePA is a coalition comprised of statewide and regional business groups, small- and medium- sized businesses, as well as Fortune 500 companies. The coalition, which represents more than half the Commonwealth’s private sector employers, was formed in 2005 to help create a competitive business tax climate that encourages job growth in Pennsylvania. On behalf of over 160 businesses and organizations across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the CompetePA Coalition writes in opposition to the proposed tax increases to businesses, large and small across Pennsylvania, as laid out in your 2021-22 budget proposal. It is no secret that Pennsylvania has one of the least competitive business tax environments in the country. For 2021, we rank 43rd in the nation in the Tax Foundation’s “Corporate Tax Ranking”. At 9.99 percent, we have the highest non-graduated Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) rate in the country. While we appreciate your proposal to lower this rate, tying the rate reduction to combined reporting – a policy that adds complexity, uncertainty, and cost to business – ultimately further negatively impacts Pennsylvania’s competitive standing. While CompetePA has historically focused on just the CNIT rate and its structure, we would be remiss if we also didn’t share our opposition to the proposal to raise the Personal Income Tax (PIT) rate. Our PIT rate is one of the most competitive rates in the country, at 3.07 percent. It’s also the rate paid by many small businesses in our Commonwealth. As regions everywhere look to recover and thrive in a post-pandemic world, now more than ever we need to ensure Pennsylvania is competitively positioned versus the competition.
    [Show full text]
  • House of Representatives
    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JOINT SENATE AGING & YOUTH COMMITTEE AND HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING STATE CAPITOL 8E-B EAST WING HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 IN RE: INDEPENDENT ENROLLMENT BROKER (IEB) MAXIMUS BEFORE: SENATOR MICHELE BROOKS, MAJORITY CHAIRMAN SENATOR ART HAYWOOD, MINORITY CHAIRMAN SENATOR LISA BAKER SENATOR THOMAS McGARRIGLE SENATOR BOB MENSCH SENATOR JOHN SABATINA SENATOR RANDY VULAKOVICH HONORABLE TIM HENNESSEY, MAJORITY CHAIRMAN HONORABLE STEVE SAMUELSON, MINORITY CHAIRMAN HONORABLE CRIS DUSH HONORABLE HAL ENGLISH HONORABLE MARK GILLEN HONORABLE RICHARD IRVIN HONORABLE BARRY JOZWIAK HONORABLE KATE ANNE KLUNK HONORABLE STEVEN MENTZER HONORABLE ERIC NELSON HONORABLE MIKE PEIFER HONORABLE CRAIG STAATS ————————— JEAN DAVIS REPORTING POST OFFICE BOX 125 • HERSHEY, PA 17033 Phone (717)503-6568 1 APPEARANCES (cont'd.) 2 HONORABLE DONNA BULLOCK HONORABLE MARY JO DALEY 3 HONORABLE PAMELA DeLISSIO HONORABLE MICHAEL DRISCOLL 4 HONORABLE MARK LONGIETTI HONORABLE ADAM RAVENSTAHL 5 HONORABLE LYNWOOD SAVAGE 6 7 ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: 8 HONORABLE ROSEMARY BROWN HONORABLE LYNDA SCHLEGEL CULVER 9 HONORABLE DONNA OBERLANDER HONORABLE TINA PICKETT 10 CHLOE ZITTLE, DIRECTOR, SENATE AGING & YOUTH COMMITTEE, 11 REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LIANA WALTERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SENATE AGING & YOUTH 12 COMMITTEE, DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ERIN RAUB, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT 13 SERVICES COMMITTEE, REPUBLICAN CAUCUS LAUREN ROONEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOUSE AGING & OLDER 14 ADULT
    [Show full text]
  • Contents Around the Rotunda Around the Rotunda
    September 13 - 19, 2019 Report provided courtesy of: KSA Group Contents Around the Rotunda Around the Rotunda ...... 1 Committee News ......... 2 PA GIVEN FAILING GRADE FOR SPENDING VOLKSWAGEN SETTLEMENT Bullet.in.Points .......... 11 MONEY By Matt Hess, Pennsylvania Legislative Services | September 17, 2019 Cosponsor Memos ....... 12 Bill Actions ............. 13 The PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center held a press conference today to announce that they have given Pennsylvania an “F” for how the state is spending the Upcoming Events ........ 18 Volkswagen settlement money. In the News ............. 19 Kelly Flanigan, Global Warming Solutions Campaign for PennEnvironment, noted that SESSION STATUS this week is “National Drive Electric Week” and explained that transportation is the largest At 12:10 p.m. on Friday, source of global warming pollution in the nation and the third largest source in Pennsylvania. June 28, 2019 the Senate “If we’re going to fight climate change, we need to limit global warming pollution from the stands in recess until Monday, transportation sector by transitioning away from dirty fossil-fuel-burning cars and buses and September 23, 2019 at 1:00 investing in electric vehicles (EVs),” she stated. “There is no question we need cleaner p.m., unless sooner recalled vehicles on our roads and there is no cleaner vehicle than an electric vehicle.” by the President Pro Tempore. Flanigan said Pennsylvania received $118 million from the Volkswagen settlement and At 2:10 p.m. on Thursday, explained that the report card scores were based upon eight criteria. “Our research found September 19, 2019 the that Pennsylvania’s funding structure heavily favors dirty diesel buses over electric buses.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative UPDATE
    November 16, 2020 Legislative UPDATE Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education "State lawmakers return to Harrisburg [this week for] what has become a rarity in recent years with a post-election session in which substantive legislation is expected to be considered," reports PennLive. According to Capitolwire, their work will primarily focus on trying "to figure out a way to finish off the state’s 2020-21 state budget (as well as appropriate $1.3 billion in federal CARES Act funding), of which there are seven months remaining to be addressed." Federal CARES Act funding must be spent by December 31st on COVID-19 related needs. The $25.8 billion interim budget funded education for kindergarten to 12th grade at the same level as 2019-20, and it also fully funded colleges and universities, including Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The current two-year legislative comes to an end on November 30th. If a balanced buget is not settled upon by then, providers, grantees and others would be impacted. Senate Session & Committee Activity Senate Session Days | Watch Session Live | Senate Calendars | Senate Committee Meeting Schedule The Senate stands in recess until the call of the President Pro Tempore, but is presently scheduled to convene today and again Tuesday through Thursday. In committee activity, Senate Appropriations is scheduled to consider these bills of interest: • SB 1350 (Browne): A supplement to and act to provide from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative & Judicial Departments, the public debt & the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • March 30, 2020 the Honorable Tom Wolf Governor of Pennsylvania 225
    March 30, 2020 The Honorable Tom Wolf Governor of Pennsylvania 225 Main Capitol Harrisburg, PA 17120 RE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security memorandum regarding residential construction Dear Governor Wolf: As we are sure you are aware, on March 28th the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new “Advisory Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response”. We write today asking that you review this memorandum and consider placing all residential construction on your essential business list as the memorandum identifies. This would include your guidance to all “essential businesses” on proper safety protocols, requiring social distancing measures which can protect the workforce and allow operations to continue. During this unprecedented time, we must put public health and safety first. Operational critical infrastructure is vital during the response to the COVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility in these times to continue operations, and the U.S. DHS has identified construction as one of those industries. In addition to the identified critical need of construction, we also believe this work, operated under the proper safety protocols, is essential now due to its role in continuing economic and societal functions post pandemic. We thank you for your time and attention to this matter and ask for your urgent consideration. Sincerely, Senator Joe Scarnati Senator Jake Corman Senator Patrick Browne President Pro Tempore Majority Leader Chair, Appropriations The Honorable Tom Wolf Page 2 March 30, 2020 Senator John Gordner Senator Bob Mensch Senator Ryan Aument Majority Whip Majority Caucus Chair Majority Caucus Secretary Senator Kim Ward Senator David Argall Majority Caucus Administrator Chair, Majority Policy Committee .
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Voter Guide State Legislative Races Pittsburgh Diocese
    2020 Voter Guide State Legislative Races Pittsburgh Diocese The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference is the public affairs arm of the Catholic bishops across the state. We monitor hundreds of pieces of legislation throughout the year and determine whether or not to take a position for or against what we feel are the ones most important to our faith. This Voter Guide includes a cross-section of seven bills spanning seven categories to show how incumbent legislators have voted. We have also invited their challengers in the general election to indicate how they would vote on these same bills. This guide is meant to be an educational piece, which we hope will provide you with information so that you can make your own decisions. A listing of the bills used for this comparison and their descriptions are below. The overall scores given to each candidate indicate the percentage of times they vote in support of PCC’s position and the percentage of times they voted in opposition to PCC’s position. Please understand we continue to work with legislators from all parties on various pieces of legislation. Unlike these, not all of that legislation has been sent to the Governor. The Conference neither supports nor opposes any candidate or political party. The Catholic Conference aims to educate and inform Catholics about a wide range of issues. List of issues included for comparison: Pro Life: House Bill 321 was a prolife measure which would prohibit the aborting of a fetus solely on the basis of a possible diagnosis of Down syndrome. The PCC strongly supported this bill and worked with prolife lawmakers to gain its passage.
    [Show full text]
  • Thom Hartmann
    Pennsylvania State Representatives Pennsylvania State Representatives Continued Pennsylvania State Representatives Continued Pennsylvania State Representatives Continued Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-10) Rep. R. Lee James (R-64) Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-8) Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-73) 5 East Wing, House Box 202010 145 A East Wing House Box 202064 150 A East Wing Box 202008 149 B East Wing House Box 202073 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2010 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2064 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2008 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2074 Phone: 717-783-8322 Phone: 717-783-8188 Phone: 717-783-6438 Phone: 717-787-7099 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] http://www.repsankey.com/contact.aspx Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-3) Rep. Joshua Kail (R-15) Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63) Rep. Curtis G. Sonney (R-4) 324 Main Capitol Bldg., House Box 202003 428 Irvis Office Bldg., House Box 202015 121 Main Capitol Building Box 202063 214 Ryan Office Bldg., Building Box 202004 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2003 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2015 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2063 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2004 Phone; 717-772-2297 Phone: 717-260-6144 Phone: 717-772-9908 Phone: 717-783-9087 http://www.pahouse.com/3/Contact/ Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Rep. Bob Brooks (R-54) Rep. Mark Longietti (D-7) Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-46) Rep. James Struzzi II (R-62) 155A East Wing House Box 202054 127 Irvis Office Building House Box 202007 143 A East Wing House Box 202046 147 B East Wing, House Box 202062 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2054 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2007 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2046 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2062 Phone: 717-260-6129 Phone: 717-772-4035 Phone: 717-787-1281 Phone: 717-705-7173 Email: www.repbrooks.com/contact Email: [email protected] http://www.reportitay.com/contact.aspx Email: www.repstruzzi.com/contact Rep.
    [Show full text]
  • 2012 Political Contributions
    2012 POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS 2012 Lilly Political Contributions 2 Public Policy As a biopharmaceutical company that treats serious diseases, Lilly plays an important role in public health and its related policy debates. It is important that our company shapes global public policy debates on issues specific to the people we serve and to our other key stakeholders including shareholders and employees. Our engagement in the political arena helps address the most pressing issues related to ensuring that patients have access to needed medications—leading to improved patient outcomes. Through public policy engagement, we provide a way for all of our locations globally to shape the public policy environment in a manner that supports access to innovative medicines. We engage on issues specific to local business environments (corporate tax, for example). Based on our company’s strategy and the most recent trends in the policy environment, our company has decided to focus on three key areas: innovation, health care delivery, and pricing and reimbursement. More detailed information on key issues can be found in our 2011/12 Corporate Responsibility update: http://www.lilly.com/Documents/Lilly_2011_2012_CRupdate.pdf Through our policy research, development, and stakeholder dialogue activities, Lilly develops positions and advocates on these key issues. U.S. Political Engagement Government actions such as price controls, pharmaceutical manufacturer rebates, and access to Lilly medicines affect our ability to invest in innovation. Lilly has a comprehensive government relations operation to have a voice in the public policymaking process at the federal, state, and local levels. Lilly is committed to participating in the political process as a responsible corporate citizen to help inform the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • A RESOLUTION Urging the Lancaster County Democratic Committee To
    A RESOLUTION Urging the Lancaster County Democratic Committee to request that elected officials be held accountable for the SEDITIOUS ACTS which led up to the Insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. WHEREAS, the Attorney General of Texas filed a meritless lawsuit Texas v Pennsylvania, et al in the Supreme Court of the United States to throw out millions of legitimate ballots cast by Pennsylvanians on November 3, 2020. On December 10, 2020, five members of Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation Representatives Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, John Joyce, Dan Meuser, and Scott Perry joined the amicus brief, “U.S. Representative Mike Johnson and 125 other Members” including 24 Pennsylvania State Senators (full list of names attached) and 72 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (full list of names attached) in three separate amicus briefs filed in Texas v Pennsylvania, et al; and WHEREAS, Senator Doug Mastriano along with members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee organized a taxpayer-funded public hearing on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, to investigate the integrity of elections but was in fact a forum to publicly air witness testimonies that claimed wide-spread 2020 election fraud which had been rejected by dozens of state and federal courts as irrelevant and non-credible; and WHEREAS, United States Congressman Scott Perry, as reported by The New York Times and various news outlets, brokered a meeting between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Clark from the Department of Justice in an attempt to install an acting Attorney General who sympathized with Mr. Trump’s claims of election fraud; and WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, hundreds stormed the United States Capitol and even after this insurrection, 147 Members of Congress voted to sustain objections to certify the electoral results in two states where Trump lost (Arizona and Pennsylvania); and WHEREAS, State Senator Douglas Mastriano organized bus trips for Washington, DC for a rally on January 6, 2021.
    [Show full text]
  • PA Environment Digest 3/10/08
    _ ______ A An Update on P Environmental _ Issues in Environment Digest Pennsylvania Edited By David E. Hess, Crisci Associates March 10, 2008 PA Environment Digest Video Blog 500 Attend Keystone Coldwater Conference, Schuylkill Watershed Congress Over the last two weekends 500 people attended the Keystone Coldwater Conference and the Schuylkill Watershed Congress anxious to learn more about how to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s watersheds. Here’s a quick summary of each of these very successful conferences. Keystone Coldwater Conference Attended by 300 The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited held their 8th Keystone Coldwater Conference on February 22-23 at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College. This year’s conference, titled “Headwater Ecosystems: Protection, Management and Research” focused on tools and techniques to best protect headwater ecosystems and highlighted emerging research and successful Why We Work to partnerships. Restore Our Watersheds The conference was attended by nearly 300 people from Conservation Districts, watershed associations, Trout Unlimited Chapters, conservation agencies and universities. The conference featured keynote presentations from Larry Schweiger, President of the National Wildlife Foundation , and Bern Sweeney, President of the Stroud Water Research Center . They spoke with the audience about the current state of our headwater ecosystems, the threats we face, and why they are imperative to protect. Eight breakout sessions rounded out the morning and afternoon, with presentations from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation , Clean Water Action, SE Montgomery TU, National Trout Unlimited , Fish and Boat Commission, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy , U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Penn State University. Some conference participants also attended a headwater taxonomy and field identification workshop looking at headwater amphibians, reptiles, fish, mussels, invertebrates and plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Locator Legislative Locator
    Legislative Locator Legislative Locator A Monthly Publication of The Pennsylvania Municipal League May 2019 TAKE ACTION! Attention Local Officials: Please reach out to your Senators and members of the Senate Transportation Committee where Senate Bill 607 awaits a vote - and express your support! Senate Bill 607 (PN 675) authorizes the use of radar and LIDAR for all municipal police. This proposal is supported by the Radar Coalition, which includes The League and PSATC. Please consider adopting a resolution supporting local use of radar in your municipality. We are providing a sample resolution on our website. If you have adopted a resolution in past sessions, it should be updated. In addition, we are providing a sample press release to use after adopting a resolution to let your residents know that municipal radar is a priority in your community and to encourage them to advocate for the passage of Senate Bill 607, too. Three other proposals have been introduced this session, which include provisions that authorize the restricted use of radar, they are: House Bill 74 (PN 78), introduced by Representative Greg Rothman; House Bill 352 (PN 328), introduced by Representative Bill Kortz; and House Bill 1275 (PN 1483), introduced by Representative Kurt Masser. The League and PSATC currently do not support these proposals as drafted due to their restrictive nature. All three of these bills are currently before the House Transportation Committee. (See SB 607 summary on next page) 1 Leisatie Locato Leisatie Locato Local Use of Radar and LIDAR Senate Bill 607 (PN 675), introduced by Senator Mario Scavello, amends Title 75 (Vehicles) authorizing the local use of both radar and LIDAR by any police officer.
    [Show full text]
  • Budget Impact in September, Spring Twp
    2017 – 2018 COMMONWEALTH BUDGET These links may expire: January 19 Lawmakers hear state tax proposals HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers should consider expanding the base of some state taxes and lowering tax rates in order to address long-standing fiscal issues, several economists told members of a House panel Thursday. That could include making more items subject to the state sales tax and... - Altoona Mirror January 17 All aboard plan to spruce up SEPTA's trolley lines SEPTA’s trolleys haven’t been replaced since the 1980s when Ronald Regan was president, yet they are wildly popular with their 100,000 riders who squeeze into them every day. Thankfully, the transit agency wants to replace them with bigger cars which can handle roughly twice as many... - Philadelphia Inquirer January 16 Legislators outline goals for new year Local legislators look forward to passing bills in the new year, and saying goodbye to the budget woes of 2017. Both Rep. Dan Moul (R-91) and Sen. Rich Alloway II (R-33) were unhappy with the decision to borrow money against future revenue in order to patch the... - Gettysburg Times January 14 Lowman Henry: Pa. budget follies set to resume The last time a Pennsylvania governor signed a full, complete state budget into law was July 10, 2014. Gov. Tom Corbett signed off on that state fiscal plan just days after it was approved by the Legislature, completing a four-year run of on-time state budgets.... - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review January 12 Lawmakers react to governor's opioid state of emergency Local lawmakers said Gov.
    [Show full text]