The road to a COVID-19 recovery has to include transit funding
News Article • 8/19/2020 • by Josh McNeil and Ryan Boyer at Pennsylvania Capital-Star
While in search of roads to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania’s roads and transit systems are suffering.
Transit agencies such as SEPTA and PATCO in the Southeast, the Port Authority in Allegheny County, and Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster have enabled doctors, nurses, supermarket employees and other essential employees to get to work.
NEW PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD REVEALS UNPRECEDENTED LEGISLATIVE ASSAULT ON CLEAN AIR AND WATER
Press Release • 8/11/2020
The 2019-2020 Pennsylvania Environmental Scorecard compiles the most crucial environmental votes that the Pennsylvania General Assembly took during the current legislative session. The scorecard is available at www.conservationpa.org/scorecard.
BENNINGHOFF’S CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD
News Article • 8/7/2020 • by Lynne Heritage at Centre Daily Times
Kerry Benninghoff has been in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the last 24 years. He has amassed an abysmal record on the environment during this time, despite representing a district that depends on a healthy environment to support the leading industries, agriculture and tourism.
Seeking to block a carbon tax, the House fell short of a veto-proof majority. How?
News Article • 7/10/2020 • by Stephen Caruso at Pennsylvania Capital-Star
It’s a political trick as old as time in Harrisburg: Force Democrats into a tight spot by pitting environmentalists against labor.
The tactic was used this session, when the General Assembly passed a multi-million dollar tax credit to expand the use of natural gas in manufacturing. And it came up again Wednesday, when the House voted 130-71 to prevent Gov. Tom Wolf from entering an interstate compact that aims to cut carbon emissions from power plants...
Katie Blume, political director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, said that it needn’t be a zero-sum game between jobs and the planet.
“I think voters are smart enough to realize that it is possible to fight for a healthy and clean environment while still encouraging family sustaining jobs,” Blume said.
Statement from CVPA staff and board: We stand among those fighting for racial justice
Press Release • 6/4/2020
Our commitment to clean air and water comes from our desire for all Pennsylvanians to be healthy and safe.
Yet marginalized communities, including far too many of our Black and Latinx neighbors, not only face the threat of pollution that sickens their communities at a far higher rate than our white neighbors, but also face the daily threat of unjust institutional racism and harassment, violence, and murder at the hands of the police.
Conservation Voters of PA highlights three endorsed Pittsburgh state House candidates
News Article • 4/16/2020 • by Ryan Deto at Pittsburgh City Paper
Environmental policy is an area where state legislators have considerable sway. With an EPA controlled by President Donald Trump that is set on rolling back regulations, a lot of environmental protections in Pennsylvania currently fall to elected officials in Harrisburg.
With that in mind, statewide environmental group Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA) has endorsed three Democratic candidates for state House seats in Allegheny County. Not only do legislators from the area vote on important environmental bills in Harrisburg, the Pittsburgh area is on the front line of air pollution and faces significant environmental impacts from the fracking industry, which has a large footprint in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
'Climate change is real,' Rep. Shusterman tells local residents
News Article • 2/28/2020
State Rep. Melissa Shusterman Thursday joined PennEnvironment, Conservation Voters of PA, and other local groups for a “Climate on Tap” event at Crowded Castle Brewing Company in Phoenixville.
Over 50 constituents from the Phoenixville and Tredyffrin areas came out to discuss local climate change impacts, how to promote clean energy solutions, and to call on Pennsylvania and the nation to transition to 100 percent renewable energy as quickly as possible to combat climate change.
Chester County, other suburbs can lead way on environmental issues
News Article • 1/27/2020 • by Josh McNeil at The Philadelphia Inquirer
This month, dozens of newly elected officials took the oath of office in Southeast Pennsylvania, capping off a profound shift toward pro-environmental protection in places like Chester, Delaware, and Bucks counties. New faces include Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz on the county board of commissioners, as well as 15 other candidates endorsed by my group, the Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, to municipal office and several other candidates to county judgeships.
Major Investment by Leading Environmental Group Leads to Historic Success in Key Southeast PA County
Press Release • 1/6/2020
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania helped support historic victories in Chester County this election cycle, making an investment of more than $250,000 to propel a slate of environmental champions to municipal, judicial, and county offices.
Rep. Friel Otten seeks second term in 155th state House District
News Article • 12/18/2019 • by Daily Local at Daily Local
State Rep. Danielle Friel Otten will seek a second term to represent the 155th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2020.
In 2018, Otten bested three-term incumbent Republican Becky Corbin by 9 percentage points to return the seat to the Democrats for the first time in 28 years.