6:22 | 08.02.2012
Pennsylvania House Leadership Foiled in Attempt to Ram Through Sweetheart Deal for Big Oil and Gas under Cover of Night
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) called on the members of
the General Assembly to refuse to rubber stamp the so-called
“compromise” drilling bill, House Bill 1950, as dictated by the
Republican House leadership. Consideration of the bill was delayed
tonight as opposition speakers refused to be silenced and spoke out
against the bill and the attempt to pass it with little notice.
“The Pennsylvania legislation is about to vote on a bill that will
sentence our state to decades of environmental damages from drilling,
public health problems, and loss of local democracy, with little benefit
to our citizens,” said Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of PennFuture.
“Waiting a few hours and thorough consideration of the consequences is
the least the citizens can expect from their members.
“Passage of this bill will make us the laughing stock of the nation,
giving the drillers everything their hearts desire while returning one
of the lowest drilling fees ever adopted,” continued Jarrett. “It also
violates the wishes of more than 70 percent of all Pennsylvanians –
regardless of political party, region, or other difference. It’s no
wonder the leadership wanted to rush this through.
“We urge the House members to consider their votes very carefully,” said
Jarrett. “This is not an issue – or a vote – that is likely to be
ignored by the citizens when they cast their votes in November.”
PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that
advances policies to protect and improve the state’s environment and
economy. With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and
Wilkes-Barre, PennFuture’s activities include litigating cases before
regulatory bodies and in local, state, and federal courts, advocating
and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public
education, and assisting citizens in public advocacy. The PennFuture
website is www.pennfuture.org
and the blog is located at http://pennfuture.blogspot.com
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