May 5, 2016
Erie – May 5, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Sean Wiley, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today on problems related to gas drilling in the Lake Erie watershed.
“We need to make responsible and measured decisions about where we can expand – as well as where we should limit – the presence, growth and impact of gas drilling,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee. “Land owners, local communities and critical watershed regions like Lake Erie cannot take a back seat to company profits. “
Sen. Sean Wiley (D-Erie) said he called for the hearing to focus statewide attention on issues such as clean water withdrawal from Lake Erie as well as concerns over the disposal of shale gas wastewater and the potential for catastrophic contamination of sources of drinking water.
“The Lake Erie watershed is a prime destination for anglers and hunters,” Wiley said. “It is imperative that we take the necessary steps to protect and preserve this pristine resource that has been so important to our region for so long.”
Wiley said that hundreds of thousands of people fish the Ohio and Pennsylvania portions of Lake Erie, which overlie much of the Utica shale gas formation. While agreeing that the economic and job benefits of gas drilling are significant, Wiley cautioned that huge water withdrawals from the watershed, threats of wastewater pollution and well integrity issues could alter stream flows, threaten steelhead fishing and encourage the introduction of invasive species in the region.
Much of today’s hearing focused on state laws regulating gas drilling and what steps can be taken to better protect the state’s watershed regions. Boscola called for the need to strike a “balance” between efforts to encourage gas drilling and competing efforts to protect community, recreational, health and environmental interests.
Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper said she cannot support gas drilling in the Erie watershed because there are too many risks to “our health, public safety and to the beautiful resource that is Lake Erie.
Pointing to devastating natural gas explosions around the state, Dahlkemper asked, “How much risk is too much risk? We have a duty to protect the Lake Erie watershed and a responsibility to protect this fresh water resource that provides drinking water for tens of thousands of people, has generated $980 million in tourism and provides some of the best fishing in the nation.”
Dr. Marsha Haley, who serves as an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, pointed to studies indicating that leaching of drilling wastewater can affect the chemical composition of streams and adversely impact water ecosystems and watershed wildlife.
She also pointed to separate studies in Washington County, Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Pennsylvania indicating that people who live closer to well sites experience a greater incidence of health problems ranging from respiratory and heart symptoms to lower birth weight.
Representatives from the oil and gas drilling industry were invited to testify, but declined to attend.
“This hearing shouldn’t be an argument that pits drillers against preservationists, job creators against environmentalists, and the state’s energy sector against health and community interests,” Boscola said. “To me, our task isn’t about taking sides. It’s about finding a balance.”
Boscola and Wiley were joined on the Senate panel by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
In addition to Senate committee members, the following took part in the discussion:
- Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkepmer
- Marsha Haley, medical doctor (radiation oncology)
- Sister Pat Lupo, Benedictine Sisters, Environmental Education and Advocacy of Erie County
- John Rossi, Pennsylvania State Chapter of the Sierra Club
- John Walliser, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- Ryan Grode, SWPA Environmental Health Project
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April 21, 2016
Harrisburg – April 21, 2016 – Senate Democrats representing large and small cities across Pennsylvania stepped forward today to propose an aggressive crime prevention plan that would provide $3.2 million in grants for local police departments.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program would enable local officials from cities of all sizes to apply for grants covering one-time expenses for equipment, training, new public safety initiatives and police overtime.
The Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant initiative is being offered by Sens. John Wozniak (D-Cambria/Bedford/Clearfield), John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia), Sean Wiley (D-Erie), Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry), and Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Police departments struggle to find resources for equipment, training, safety initiatives and overtime,” Wozniak said. “This grant program would be a very useful way to direct much-needed funds for specific crime prevention initiatives.”
In Wozniak’s district, Johnstown would be eligible to apply for grant funding. Wozniak, who is active in local government issues, proposed the development of the Third Class City Caucus as a way to push measures helpful to smaller cities, including funding for public safety.
“Crime fighting in urban areas – regardless of the size of the city – poses unique problems that have to be addressed,” Sabatina said. “This program provides a conduit for law enforcement to access funds to pay for necessary law enforcement tools.”
Sabatina’s 5th Senatorial District is located in Northeast Philadelphia. A former assistant district attorney, he has been a leader on police and law enforcement issues since he joined the General Assembly.
Safe Street Grants would be based on a city’s population. First and second-class cities (Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively) could receive up to $150,000. Second-class A and third-class cities with populations between 40,000 and 120,000 (Erie, Harrisburg, etc.) are eligible for $100,000 grants.
Third-class cities with a population ranging from 16,000 to 40,000 residents (Johnstown, McKeesport, for example) could seek $75,000 under the program. Cities with populations from 10,000 to 15,999, and those with less than 10,000 citizens would be eligible for grants of $50,000 or $25,000, respectively.
“Cities in Pennsylvania face stiff fiscal challenges and need financial help in many areas,” Wiley said. “Earmarking grant dollars for specific purposes will help police combat crime, improve public safety and save lives.”
Wiley has been heavily involved in assisting Erie area police departments. He helped access funding for a K-9 unit based at Mercyhurst University that is trained in bomb detection. The unit is available to the Erie Bureau of Police as well as other local departments. Under the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program, Erie would be eligible for a $100,000 grant.
The program would be administered through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“Public safety is a top priority of local government,” Teplitz said. “The key aspect of the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is that it is tailored to help law enforcement from cities of all sizes.”
Teplitz represents Harrisburg, which would be eligible for $100,000 in grant funding under the program. He helped develop a bipartisan municipal debt reform package (Senate Bills 340-344) to enhance state oversight of municipal financial deals and prevent fiscal catastrophes that have embroiled Harrisburg and other municipalities.
As Democratic chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee and a leader on addressing fiscal issues associated with third-class cities, Teplitz believes that a renewed focus on providing law enforcement with the resources and tools to combat crime will pay dividends for generations to come.
Brewster, who represents a number of eligible cities (McKeesport, Duquesne, Clairton, New Kensington, Arnold and Lower Burrell), said the Safe Streets Law Enforcement Grant Program is an excellent approach that would fill a local need.
“Small cites are cash-strapped and often find it difficult to pay expenses,” Brewster said. “This grant program offers smaller urban areas which do not have resources readily available a way to fund law enforcement and protect citizens.”
Brewster served as the mayor of McKeesport and was a member of council, including service as council president. He has been a strong proponent of using new technology to fight crime, including the use of body cameras for police officers.
According to the bill’s sponsors, there are 57 cities that could access grant funding. The grant funding could not be used to hire new officers or cover personnel or benefit costs. Overtime cost is an eligible expense.
Municipalities who use Pennsylvania State Troopers for local patrol and law enforcement would be ineligible.
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October 28, 2015
Harrisburg – October 28, 2015 – At the request of state Sen. Vince Hughes (D-Phila.), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the devastating impact that the state’s 120-day budget impasse is having on schools across the state.
“While many of the budget dispute points remain unresolved, what is clear is that the consequences of this impasse are far-reaching,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), who chairs the committee. “This hearing gives lawmakers a sense of how schools are handling the funding shortfall, and what problems they’ll face if this stalemate continues to drag on.”
Hughes added, “A growing number of schools have been cornered into borrowing money and taking out credit lines just to keep their doors open. Hopefully, this hearing’s focus on this worsening statewide financial crisis will encourage greater urgency, cooperation and compromise in the ongoing budget negotiations.”
During the hearing, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale testified that at least 27 school districts have taken out loans totaling more than $431 million. He projected that interest payments will total $30 million if the stalemate reaches mid-November.
Those who testified decried how the impasse has harmed students, depleted reserves and how taxpayers will be needlessly saddled with paying the interest on the growing number of loans and credit lines that schools are obtaining to keep their doors open.
Erie Public Schools Superintendent Jay Badams lamented that his district will need to borrow $30 million just to get through January.
“That’s $114,000 in wasted interest money that could have been used for so many badly needed educational expenses,” Badams said.
Dr. Joseph Roy, who serves as superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District in Northampton County, added that “choices at the state level continue to hammer school districts.” He said the diversion of funds to charter and cyber schools and a “punitive” approach to public education has blown up school expenditures.
Dr. Rula Skezas, who serves as superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District in Allegheny County, noted that even if the district receives its proposed funding it would still fall short of what it received during the 2011 school year. She said McKeesport has taken out a $5 million line of credit to make it to December. She said the district has already eliminated 110 staff positions to try and make ends meet.
Hughes, who serves as Democratic chair of the Appropriations Committee, said public, charter and private schools are already reeling from years of being underfunded. He noted that the Philadelphia School District has already borrowed $275 million during the impasse. Fran Burns, who serves as chief operating officer for the School District of Philadelphia, testified that the district has struggled to contend with a “structural deficit.”
Lamenting the impact on local working families who fund schools through property taxes, Boscola pointed toward an educational survey conducted earlier this year showing that nearly 75 percent of districts were planning to impose property tax hikes, 30 percent were planning on making additional program cuts, and 41 percent were making more staff cuts. She said the state has withheld approximately $3 billion in school funds since the budget impasse began in July.
Joining Boscola and Hughes at the Capitol committee hearing were Senators John Blake (D-Lackawanna), Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny), Andrew Dinniman (D-Montgomery), Christine Tartaglione (D-Phila.) and Sean Wiley (D-Erie),
Those testifying included:
- The Honorable Eugene DePasquale
Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Fran Burns
Chief Operating Officer, School District of Philadelphia
- Joseph Gorham
Superintendent of Schools, Carbondale Area School District
- Dr. Joseph Roy
Superintendent of Schools, Bethlehem Area School District
- Dr. Jay D. Badams
Superintendent, Erie Public Schools
- Dr. Rula S. Skezas
Superintendent, McKeesport Area School District
- Marjorie Neff
Chair, School Reform Commission
- Anthony Pirrello
CEO, Montessori Regional Charter School of Erie, and Vice President of Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools
- Matt Przywara
Member, PASBO
Chief Financial and Operations Officer, School District of Lancaster
- Bill LaCoff
President, Pennsylvania School Boards Association
- Susan Gobreski
Education Voters of Pennsylvania
- Dr. Pearl English
School Nurse, School District of Philadelphia
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