Beautiful downtown Harrisburg beckons
Join PennFuture and other organizations at the State Capitol on Tuesday, June 9 for legislative visits in support of a severance tax on natural gas with funding for conservation programs, wildlife management agencies, and local governments that shoulder the risks and burdens of the drilling.
Visit our website for more information and to register for the June 9 event. And make sure you join our press conference with our legislative supporters at 10:30 in the Capitol Media Center.
Whether or not you can come to Harrisburg, join us at our town hall meetings on June 10 in Philadelphia, June 12 in Pittsburgh and June 17 in State College.
And here's why we need you to join us
The Associated Press reports that a leak in a wastewater pipe from a Washington County deep natural gas drilling operation killed salamanders, crayfish, insects and at least one fish when the waste emptied into a nearby stream. And PennFuture is working on behalf of citizens in Armagh, Indiana County, who also suffered contaminated drinking water and a fish kill as a result of nearby gas drilling operations.
These problems are more evidence that natural gas drilling provides tremendous risk as well as opportunity. That's why we need a severance tax on this drilling, with funding for the environment, wildlife agencies, and the local governments who carry the risks of the drilling operations.
More on heat-trapping gases in DC
Yesterday U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) set a flexible deadline of June 19 for committee chairs to complete their review of vital legislation to fight global warming. Pelosi said that passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) was “urgent," and she plans to bring it up for a floor vote as soon as possible.
On May 21, the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including Representative Mike Doyle (D-Pennsylvania), voted to approve the bill, which is sponsored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-California) and Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts). The bill features a three-pillar approach to reduce our nation's excessive carbon pollution and create jobs.
Before the bill can proceed to the full House for a vote it must go to at least 11 other committees and subcommittees for comment and changes.
We need more than ruby slippers
In tough times like this, people tend to stay home and cocoon. But too many Pennsylvanians are at risk of losing their homes. That's why PennFuture and several other organizations are urging the legislature to increase funding for the Homeowner's Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), a short-term loan program for homeowners facing foreclosure due to unemployment, illness or other extreme situations.
The HEMAP program had $16 million in funding this fiscal year, but Governor Rendell and the Senate propose to cut funding to as low as $9.9 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. This cut comes as mortgage foreclosures are reaching historic levels in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Keeping families in their homes and maintaining neighborhood stability enhances communities and will save money for taxpayers over the long haul.
Down by the riverside
Philadelphia City Council took an important step this week to reconnect citizens with the Delaware River. The council's rules committee approved a zoning overlay for a portion of the riverfront between Oregon and Allegheny Avenues consistent with the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware, which was adopted by the city planning commission. This action helps ensure that a riverfront greenway and trail will be developed, and that development prior to the adoption of a riverfront master plan and permanent zoning will not impede or obstruct access to and along the Delaware.
The Black and Gold City eats lunch
Current and future community partners of The Black and Gold City Goes Green, Pittsburgh's city-wide Campaign to cut heat-trapping gases and build green jobs, will meet for lunch, updates, and networking on Wednesday, June 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Regional Enterprise Tower (Old Alcoa Building, as they say in Pittsburgh). Sign up online by Monday to take part.
Podcast of the Week: Eavesdropping on Jan and Joy
This podcast features a look behind the scenes with a freewheeling discussion between PennFuture's President and CEO, Jan Jarrett, and our Federal Policy Manager, Joy Bergey.
Jan and Joy talk about why they do the work they do and what they like best about their jobs. From global warming to TMI, these women will show you the passion, intelligence, and sensitivity they bring to the work, and why PennFuture does so much so well.
If you aren't already a PennFuture member, there's no time like the present to join. Together, we're changing Pennsylvania for the better!
Don't forget that you can beat the crowd and listen to PennFuturePodcasts first. Just download the free software iTunes and follow the directions to subscribe to PennFuture's podcasts. They'll be delivered to you automatically.
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