By Tom Waring
Wire Staff Writer
Kevin Strouse, a Democratic candidate in the 8th Congressional District, criticized Gov. Tom Corbett for allowing natural gas companies to operate in Pennsylvania tax-free.
Strouse cited the importance of protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources, and fully funding education as reasons for supporting a severance tax on natural gas drillers.
“Nothing is more important to me than making sure I raise my two young children in an environment where they have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. If energy companies are extracting natural resources from our commonwealth, it is just common sense that they should be taxed at a fair rate, which would enable us to fund on-the-ground inspectors of drilling sites to ensure they comply with environmental standards,” he said.
Strouse has advocated for repealing what is known as the “Halliburton loophole,” an exemption in federal environmental regulations that exempts fracking companies from abiding by the standards of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Strouse is also an advocate for the moratorium on drilling in the Delaware River Basin.
“When I am elected to Congress, I will support legislation to require the natural gas industry to disclose all chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process, and I will fight to repeal the Halliburton loophole and bring natural gas drilling under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act,” he said.
Strouse is a former Army ranger, CIA counterterrorism analyst and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He lives in Middletown with his wife, Amy, and two young children, Walter and Charlotte. He is program director of Teach2Serve, an education nonprofit that teaches young people to give back to their communities.
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Strouse and Shaughnessy Naughton, his opponent in the May 20 primary, will participate in the annual New Hope Celebrates Pride Parade.
The parade will kick off on May 17 in Lambertville, New Jersey, and march across the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge. It is the highlight of New Hope Pride Week, May 11–18.
The parade theme is “Bridge to Equality,” which will highlight the fight for marriage equality in Pennsylvania and across the country.
Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio will perform a marriage between a same-sex couple from Bucks County.
Same-sex marriage is illegal in Pennsylvania.
After the marriage ceremony, the parade will pause midway on the bridge (the state line) where Strouse, Naughton, New Hope Mayor Larry Keller, New Hope Borough Council members and former Equality Pennsylvania president Adrian Shanker will join the parade.
Following the parade will be a vendor fair and block party in the parking lot of the Bucks County Playhouse.
Naughton, of Point Pleasant, is a scientist and small publishing company owner. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick. The district includes all of Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County.
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Rep. Fitzpatrick last week joined local leaders, first responders and community members for the renaming of the Newtown Bypass to the “Brian S. Gregg Memorial Highway.”
Officer Gregg — a Newtown Borough police officer — lost his life in the line of duty on Sept. 29, 2005.
“It is critical that we honor and remember those who make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others in our community. Our police and first responders take it upon themselves to protect our homes and neighborhood — that includes taking on the risks involved,” Fitzpatrick said following the April 22 event. “For those lost in the line of duty — like Officer Gregg — we must recognize their commitment each day. The renaming of this highway will serve as a daily reminder for thousands of people of the important role our first responders play locally and nationally.”
Gregg, 45, began his police career in 2003.
Fitzpatrick also recognized the renaming of the highway on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Fitzpatrick is serving his third term in the House.
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Fitzpatrick recognized the Council Rock School District for being one of the 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees.
The district was one of 48 across the country honored for exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education.
“Congratulation to the students, teachers and administrators of the Council Rock School District for their recognition as a national ‘Green Ribbon School,’” Fitzpatrick said. “The entire district has committed itself to responsible stewardship and environmental education — from lesson plans to property. Council Rock’s hard work led them to be named the only ‘Green Ribbon School’ from Pennsylvania — a recognition which sets a benchmark for success for schools across the county and across the state.”
Over the last several years, Council Rock has increased environmental awareness efforts in and out of the classroom. The district has added “Green Teams” to lead environmental initiatives, incorporated increased efficiency standards in new building projects and converted nearly eight acres to natural growth areas and gardens.
In 2013, Fitzpatrick helped introduced the bipartisan No Child Left Inside Act to better educate children about the natural sciences and foster greater environmental awareness and stewardship. He has been recognized by both the National Parks Conservation Association and Humane Society for his support of environmental and conservation efforts.
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Allyson Schwartz, a Democratic candidate for governor, held a conference call with reporters expressing her pride in President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act and called on Tom Wolf and other Democrats in the race to openly embrace the law.
Schwartz is one of the few Democrats in the country to proactively advertise on the success of the Affordable Care Act.
“I am the only Democrat in the race that helped write the Affordable Care Act, worked with President Obama to pass it and now am campaigning on the success of the law,” she said. “I have the experience and proven leadership to take on Tom Corbett to expand Medicaid for 500,000 Pennsylvanians and implement the Affordable Care Act to benefit Pennsylvania families in ensuring affordable health coverage.
“Tom Wolf and the other Democrats in the race have been evasive in their support of and pride in the Affordable Care Act. If they won’t say they are proud of this law and its success now, then they won’t be able to take on Tom Corbett or get the Affordable Care Act implemented right for Pennsylvania.”
Wolf, the leader in the polls, has said that the Affordable Care Act is a “good start,” and in a recent interview with the York Daily Record did not address the law and its impact on Pennsylvania and America.
Meanwhile, Schwartz’s campaign released a new campaign television ad highlighting her leadership role in helping write and pass the Affordable Care Act.
“I am proud to have worked with President Obama to write and pass the Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation that is helping 8 million Americans get affordable, quality health coverage,” she said.
Mike Barley, campaign manager for Corbett and Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley (a former Bucks County commissioner), released the following statement regarding Schwartz’s ad and MSNBC appearance, fully embracing what he called the Obamacare “legislative disaster.”
“Despite cancelled policies, skyrocketing premiums, lost doctors and jobs, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz has turned her back on Pennsylvania for good,” Barley said. “Congresswoman Schwartz has embraced an extreme liberal agenda in Washington, D.C. and the disastrous health-care takeover she helped to write and force upon hardworking Pennsylvanians. Now, Congresswoman Schwartz hopes to bring those failed budget-busting Obama policies to Harrisburg, proving just how out of touch she is with the people of Pennsylvania.”
