HARRISBURG — A Commonwealth Court judge has denied a request by the gas-drilling industry and top Republican legislators to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s new Marcellus Shale law.

Senior Judge Keith B. Quigley wrote in a decision today that the legislators do not have a “legally enforceable interest” in defending the intent behind their law. He wrote that the interests of the industry will be represented by the state as it defends the constitutionality of the law.

The judge turned down requests to participate in the case by Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati and House Speaker Sam Smith, as well as those by a collection of industry trade associations and companies.

Officials from seven municipalities, along with a Monroeville doctor and members of the Delaware Riverkeepers Network, have filed a suit arguing the the law constrains their ability to protect residents by how they craft zoning rules. Last week, Judge Quigley granted a 120-stay to the portion of the law affecting local zoning rules.

The remainder of the law went into effect on Saturday.

Earlier this week, attorneys for the legislators and the industry groups argued in court that they should be able to participate in the case.

The White House and Mortgage Fraud: So Far It’s All Talk, No Action

by Randy Shannon, Coordinator

Western PA PDA

April 18, 2012

Over the past three years we have watched the banks tighten their grip on the government.

Things have reached the point where the President cannot follow through on his commitments to the American people.

He has promised to prosecute the criminal wrong doings of the banks. Remember the S&L Scandal and Enron. The perpetrators of these crimes were prosecuted, fined, and jailed. But the biggest crime of the century that wrecked the economy has not even been investigated. The fraud is self-evident and admitted, yet the Attorney General has not initiated action.

At his State of the Union Address, President Obama invited NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman as his guest after Schneiderman agreed to the President’s package deal with the fraudulent banks. Schneiderman had held out against immunity for criminal acts and for a team in the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute criminal acts by the bankers.

As we see in the New York Daily News article below, the President’s State of the Union promise to the American people to bring justice to this scandal was empty rhetoric. Nothing has happened.

Continue reading Obama’s Mortgage Fraud Unit is a Fraud on the American Public →

April 18, 2012

by Randy Shannon, Coordinator

Western PA Progressive Democrats of America

The labor movement’s campaign to oust Democratic Congressman Jason Altmire in the new 12th Congressional District is an important push against the bankers’ foothold in the Democratic Party. United Steelworkers Union President Leo Gerard kicked off a one week labor campaign to mobilize union voters behind their endorsed candidate, Democratic Congressman Mark Critz, who succeeded John Murtha to represent the old 12th District.

Altmire is a former lobbyist for the health care industry and in his six years in Congress worked diligently to undermine the single payer movement, led the attack on the public option, and finally voted against the Affordable Care Act.

More importantly Altmire runs the Keystone Fund, which washes lobbyist money that is flowing into Democratic Congressional campaigns. This money flow to Democrats through Altmire’s Keystone Fund buys votes to prevent national healthcare, to hold back jobs programs to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, and to approve any and all military spending and bank bailouts.

Meanwhile the 1% is paying the lowest tax in modern history while scheming to liquidate Social Security. Altmire’s Blue Dog strategy helps depress the vote by demoralizing voters. Altmire and the Blue Dogs are helping the Republicans from inside the Democratic Party. A recent investigation showed that Altmire’s phone bank and fund raising campaign is being run by a Republican consultant firm in Washington, DC.

At the rally to mobilize the union vote in the April 24 Democratic primary, President Gerard aimed his remarks at Altmire. “He was a lobbyist.” Someone in the crowd shouted: “He still is” to nods all around.

Continue reading Democrats Must Fight for the 99% to Win in 2012 →

Democrat Jason Altmire Using GOP Lobbying Firm for Phonebanks, Campaign Donations

by Randy Shannon

April 13, 2012

Leo Gerard, President of the USW, will appear at the headquarters of USW Local 8183 at 9:00 am Saturday morning to kick off a labor walk for Mark Critz. The union hall is located at 1445 Market St. in Bridgewater.

Mark Critz is the current Democratic Representative from the 12th CD. His district has been merged with the 4th CD, currently represented by Jason Altmire. Redistricting by the Republican legislature has thrown Critz and Altmire into a contest to win the Democratic nomination for the new 12th District.

Continue reading USW President Gerard to Kick Off Labor Effort for Critz in PA 12th CD →

Can We Protect Our Water?

Public Forum on the Ambridge Reservoir

and Natural Gas Drilling

Ambridge High School Auditorium

1:00-4:00 pm Saturday April 21st

Service Creek is High Quality Water designated and Cold Water Fishes protected stream in Beaver County. The J.C. Bacon dam impounds Service Creek, forming the Ambridge reservoir, the source for the Ambridge Water Authority to provide water to 35,000 customers.

The rapid development of gas drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shale underlying S.W. PA could pose a challenge to the integrity of our natural resource. This forum will provide area workers, consumers, professionals and leaders an opportunity to hear experts on some of the challenges posed by possible hydrofracking operations in the Service Creek watershed.

Event Chairman

Robert Schmetzer, South Heights Borough Council President

Panelists

Daniel J. Bain, PhD, Asst. Professor Dept. of Geology and Planetary Science, U. of Pgh; PhD. in Geography and Environmental Engineering Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Geology/hydrology – How does the geology and hydrology of this watershed respond to hydrofracking. What are the risks from above ground spills to the reservoir. What are the risks from subsurface migration to the reservoir.

Erika Staaf, BS Environmental Studies, Bucknell University, Clean Water Advocate for Penn Environment, Pittsburgh

History – What is the history of the impact on water resources of hydrofracking operations in PA.

Jill K. Kriesky, PhD Economics, Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, Senior Project Coordinator for the Center for Healthy Environment and Communities,

Public Health – What are the known public health impacts of hydrofracking operations, especially in regard to water.

Emily A. Collins, JD, Pitt Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Supervising Attorney at Environmental Law Clinic, formerly Public Interest Council of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Legal – What is the federal, state, and riparian common law framework governing the Service Creek watershed, Service Creek and the Ambridge Reservoir.

The panelists will answer questions written on cards available at the beginning of the forum. After the panel there will be an opportunity for comments and discussion.

Sponsored by: Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Committee, John Pournaras Agency, Creekside Springs, Valley Realty, and W. PA Conference United Methodist Church Board of Churches Society

http://www.marcellusawareness.com

Labor and materials donated