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Pennsylvania's Gas Problem Gets Worse: While lawmakers work to balance Pennsylvania’s budget, they’re also giving into special interests—and the oil & gas industry that poured nearly $1 million in campaign contributions to key lawmakers just last year.

Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Pennsylvania's Gas Problem Gets Worse: Heather Shelby takeaction@edf.org via mta-bbcspool.convio.net 11:33 AM (57 minutes ago) to me Peter — Something dangerous is happening in Harrisburg. While lawmakers work to balance Pennsylvania’s budget, they’re also giving into special interests—and the oil & gas industry that poured nearly $1 million in campaign contributions to key lawmakers just last year. It’s time to make sure the Pennsylvania legislature knows: They don’t answer to industry, they answer to you. Don’t let them use the budget to put Pennsylvanians’ health and safety at risk. Here’s the problem: The Pennsylvania State Senate voted, with no debate and little knowledge of what was in the legislation, to approve legislation that could fast-track new oil & gas projects without a proper review, allow polluters to cut corners, and outsource the future of our environment to private companies. Now, that budget plan is heading to the State House. In short, this legislation paves the way for the oil & gas industry to dial up climate pollution like methane while making your air more dangerous to breathe. It is unacceptable for Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass a budget that strips important safeguards that protect Pennsylvanians from oil & gas pollution. Blocking environmental and public health protections has nothing to do with balancing the budget—all it does is give drillers a license to pollute and puts Commonwealth communities at risk. We cannot afford to put the future of our air and water in industry’s hands—not when some of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas companies are responsible for hundreds of spills and massive amounts of air pollution. Don’t let this legislation become law: Tell your State Representative to strongly oppose any budget deal that puts the interests of industry above Pennsylvanians. Heather ShelbyThank you for standing with us, HeatherShelbySignature Heather Shelby Action Network Manager
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Burgess Message to the PA Legislature Years ago the coal industry made good profits in Pennsylvania, and then went bankrupt. 50 years later the abandoned coal mines are still polluting the environment. I'm writing in strong opposition to the current budget deal that gives far too much leeway to Pennsylvania's oil and gas industry. Please oppose this dangerous legislation that will increase methane and other harmful pollution. This legislation trades away vital clean air and water protections for Pennsylvanians while coming nowhere near closing the budget gap. Instead, it fast-tracks oil and gas permits, cuts corners, and outsources the future of Pennsylvania's environment to private companies. The Commonwealth does not have to choose between a strong economy and a healthy environment, but this legislation puts both in jeopardy. Please make it clear that Pennsylvania's clean air and clean water are not for sale. Oppose this bad budget deal, and any other legislation that hands industry control of the oil & gas permitting process. A healthy environment should be the foundation for an economy that is prosperous and beneficial for everyone.