Budget finished? Not so fast - it's not a done deal
On Wednesday both the Senate and the House approved a General Fund budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year that started July 1. The budget bill only says how the money will be spent, not where the money will come from.
The details of that bill don't make us happy campers. It contains another round of severe cuts to state conservation and environmental agencies—11 percent for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and 9 percent for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The DCNR cuts are really shortsighted and harmful. Our state parks are national gold medal awards winners, and residents are flocking to them during the recession as families stay closer to home. The parks are vital economic contributors to local economies. The cuts to the state parks budget could result in cuts to programs, services and layoffs for employees. The 30 percent cut to state forest operations could erode DCNR's ability to manage timber and gas operations, and force the department to close miles of forest roads.
But it could have been worse. Governor Rendell had proposed a $132 million raid on environmental funds to feed the budget, including $41.8 million from Growing Greener; $54.8 million from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund; $20.4 million from the Agriculture Easement Purchase Fund; $10 million from the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund and $8 million from the Clean Air Fund. But public outcry - from citizens, the conservation community and members from all four legislative caucuses - stopped most of this raid on in its tracks. PennFuture especially thanks House Democratic Southeast Delegation Chair Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery) and Senate Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) for their timely leadership to oppose this threat.
But Governor Rendell won't sign the budget bill until the crucial other parts are passed, particularly the Fiscal Code bill, which identifies where the money will come from. As Daze goes to press (can you go to press electronically?), a dispute over the Fiscal Code bill and a proposed legislative fiscal office is threatening the overall budget agreement.
Opposition to new raids on environmental funds in the Fiscal Code bill from PennFuture and other environmental and conservation organizations is also prompting many legislators in both parties to demand changes in the bill. One plan is to raid the portion of the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund that is used by land trusts to conserve properties with significant recreational, ecological, and other values. The funds must be matched by local sources, so raiding these funds will pull the plug on significant, high value, multi-year conservation projects that often have substantial local participation and investment. Representative Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) is leading the charge on a bi-partisan legislative effort in both the House and Senate to restore these crucial funds.
Another plan is to pillage the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, which DCNR was intending to use to keep the state parks and forests running despite the cuts in its budget. Budget negotiators want to divert 40 percent ($20 million) of DCNR's annual share of the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, further crippling the agency and its ability to manage our public lands. Please urge your state senator and state representative to protect our public lands by resisting these raids on the Keystone Fund and the Oil and Gas Lease Fund.
Promises, promises
As part of the budget deal, House and Senate leaders promised to get a Marcellus Shale gas severance tax to the Governor's desk by October 1. But Senate Republicans keep threatening to back out of the promise if budget negotiations are not satisfactorily completed. A promise is a promise and the severance tax should not be used as a bargaining chip. It's the right thing to do for Pennsylvania's environment and economy.
Time for the right to "man up" and apologize for Smeargate
Yet another investigation completed this week into the integrity of Dr. Michael Mann's climate research resulted in the same verdict every other investigation into his work found - his methods are sound and results valid.
Smeargate - the smear campaign against Dr. Mann and the other Nobel Prize winning climate scientists - is the real scandal. And right-wing apologists for the polluters, like the Commonwealth Foundation, who attempted to discredit these scientists by creating the "Climategate" scandal out of thin air, must be called on their behavior. Matt Brouillette, executive director of the Commonwealth Foundation should "man up" and issue an apology to Dr. Mann.
Falling further behind in the clean energy race
Neighbors Delaware and New Jersey are raising the clean energy bar. New Jersey is a national leader in developing solar power, and now it's taking on wind. Proposed legislation will require a portion of the state's electricity to come from offshore wind, and provide $100 million in tax credits to companies developing this resource.
Meanwhile, the Delaware legislature passed a bill that requires 25 percent of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2025.
To remain competitive in the race to bring new clean energy companies and jobs to Pennsylvania, our legislature must pass the Clean Energy and Green Jobs Bill (House Bill 2405)
Senator White gives thumbs up to clean water rules
Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango), chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee this week told DEP Secretary John Hanger that her committee would take no action to delay the adoption of two important clean water rules. One rule will require gas drillers clean up gas well wastewater to meet clean drinking water standards. Another requires developers to maintain or create a 150-foot natural vegetative buffer alongside Pennsylvania's best streams. In her letter, Senator White said that, "our Committee shares your view that we must make the safety, health and welfare of our citizens out top priority." She also pledged to work on other improvements to regulation of the drilling industry.
Clean water and coffee
Join PennFuture for breakfast to find out more about Pennsylvania's commitment to clean water here at home and downstream in the Chesapeake Bay. Officials from DEP will discuss the plan to limit the amount of pollution in the region (technically known as a total maximum daily load or TMDL) and Pennsylvania's approach to meeting pollution reduction goals. Learn more about innovative stormwater solutions and federal efforts to provide additional resources for local governments.
Register by clicking on the name of the city near you. The schedule and locations include:
| July 13 - Hershey July 14 - York July 20 - State College |
July 21 - Williamsport July 22 - Wilkes-Barre |
Space is limited. Register today!
Podcast of the Week - A Profile in Courage
Dr. Michael Mann, internationally respected climate scientist at Penn State University is a true profile in courage. He has endured attacks on his work and on him personally by the minions of the polluters for years. And each set of attacks has resulted in the same thing - his vindication.
PennFuture's Heather Sage interviewed Dr. Mann this week as the most recent report was published, totally vindicating him. This podcast clearly shows that under that mild mannered exterior is a man of steely courage.
Dr. Mann also spoke at PennFuture's Global Warming Conference this spring. The video of his presentation is well worth a look. You'll also see why Smeargate - the campaign to discredit, harass, and vilify climate scientists - is the real scandal.
PennFuture works every day to make a difference for Pennsylvania's environment and economy. Isn't it time to join us and make a difference yourself? Go to our secure website to join PennFuture, and make sure you sign up for our publications. And remember, you can make sure you don't miss any podcasts by subscribing to them through iTunes.
Happy Independence Day to all of our readers!
Your ever-alert PennFuture staff will be on guard all weekend at the Capitol, fighting to protect Pennsylvania's environment and economy (It's a lonely job, but somebody has to do it), as the budget process continues. Look for twitter updates (@pennfuture) and maybe even alerts and a special Session Daze if fireworks ensue.
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