PA Environment Digest Blog

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

PennFuture Returns $138,000+ In State Grant Funds

By DONALD GILLILAND, The Harrisburg Patriot-News
One of Pennsylvania’s leading environmental groups has returned more than $138,000 in taxpayer money because it violated the terms of the contract.
Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future — better known as PennFuture — received a two-year grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development in 2009 to provide information on energy conservation to school districts and municipalities.
Click Here for full story.

Wednesday NewsClips

Pennsylvania Budget Cutting May Get Painful
Outlook Bleak For Next Year's State Budget
PA Plans To Freeze Some Spending to Keep Budget In Balance
PA Expects $500 Million Budget Deficit
House Votes Down Senate Drilling Impact Fee
Allegheny County Twp Budgets For Drilling Legal Fight
Encana Refutes EPA Study Linking Fracking To Water Pollution
Gas Pipeline Would Run Through Somerset, Bedford
Feds OK $420 Million For Pennsylvanians Affected By Flooding
200 Flooded Properties Proposed For Federal Buyouts
Luzerne County Flood Board OKs Budget
Funding Cuts Put Emergency Preparedness At Risk
Congress OKs $300 Million For Great Lakes Cleanup
Great Lakes States Can't Agree On Asian Carp Controls
Column: Tunkhannock Schools Go Green
Click Here for PA Capitol Digest

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

PA Trout Unlimited Now Accepting Trout In The Classroom Grants

PA Council of Trout Unlimited is now accepting applications for Trout in the Classroom grants until February 24 for the 2012-2013 school year.

Trout in the Classroom is an interdisciplinary program in which students in grades 3rd through 12th learn about coldwater conservation while raising brook trout from eggs to fingerlings in a classroom aquarium. All classrooms end the year by releasing their trout into a state approved waterway.

Grants are available for the following:

-- Trout in the Classroom Start-Up Grants are awarded to applicants who are (501) c3 conservation organizations that have developed a partnership with a teacher. The start-up grant provides essential equipment necessary to start a Trout in the Classroom program. The grantee must provide a $350.00 cash match to Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited as well as a 55 gallon aquarium and lid to the classroom.

-- Trout in the Classroom Existing Grants are awarded to teachers and conservation organizations which have an existing program in place. The maximum value of this grant is $500 for specific replacement equipment, TIC support materials, i.e., books, videos, multi-media), and classroom field trip expenses.

Pennsylvania’s statewide TIC program is made possible through a unique partnership between PA Council of Trout Unlimited, Fish and Boat Commission and Department of Education Environmental and Ecology section.

Funding for this opportunity was provided by PA Council of Trout Unlimited, Fish and Boat Commission and Department of Education’s Environment and Ecology section.

Grant applications and additional program information are available on the PA Trout in the Classroom website. For more information, contact Samantha Kutskel at 814-359-5114 or send email to: c-skutskel@pa.gov.

House Unanimously Nonconcurs In Marcellus Shale Legislation Sending Bill To Conference

House Republicans and House Democrats combined Tuesday, for different reasons, to vote unanimously to nonconcur in Senate changes to House Bill 1950 (Ellis-R-Butler) which would amend the Oil and Gas Act to include additional environmental protection measures relating to Marcellus Shale drilling and a statewide drilling fee.
Last week, Senate Republicans gutted the House-passed version of the bill and inserted the language from Senate Bill 1100 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) passed earlier by the Senate and sent the bill back to the House. (A summary, the Senate Fiscal Note and the House Fiscal Note are available for the bill.)

House Democrats said the bill was inadequate in terms of the amount of money raised by a drilling fee, like the House-passed optional county adopted fee, and environmental protection measures are inadequate.

Democrats attempted several amendments to the bill in the House Rules Committee which failed along party lines before the bill went to the full House for the concurrence vote. Rep. Eddie Pashinski (D-Luzerne) tried amendments again on the House Floor, but they failed to get a two-thirds vote to suspend the rules to have the amendments considered.

House Republicans said the earlier House-passed bill took a balanced approach to dealing with Marcellus Shale issues and funded valuable programs like Growing Greener through a transfer from the DCNR Oil and Gas Fund.

The bill must now go back to the Senate for a vote on whether they will insist on their amendments before the bill can formally go to a conference committee. The Senate returns to session January 3, but the first voting day is now scheduled for January 17.

What's A Conference Committee?

In practical terms it probably does not matter when the Senate votes to insist on its amendments because difficult negotiations, which have been going on for weeks, will continue between the Senate and House Republicans and the Governor's Office to come to some sort of compromise.

A conference committee consists of six members-- three from the House and three from the Senate. Two members from each chamber are from the majority party and one from each chamber from the minority party. Four votes are needed to approve a conference committee report.

If an agreement is approved by the committee, the conference committee report is presented to the Senate and House for an up or down vote. Amendments are not allowed unless the rules of each chamber are suspended by a two-thirds vote.

Analysis: What We Lose If There's No Final Action On A Marcellus Shale Bill
Analysis: Should Taxpayers Spend $75 M A Year On Zack & Miri Make A Porno?
Analysis: Senate, House Each Passed Marcellus Bills, Where Do We Go? Easy!
Analysis: Will We Get A Chevy Or A Pinto Out Of Marcellus Shale Debate?
Analysis: Is 8 Years Long Enough To Wait To Update PA's Drilling Law?

Analysis: You Can't Go Fishing With A Solar Panel

Help Wanted: Hollow Oak Land Trust Seeks Executive Director

Hollow Oak Land Trust, a nonprofit corporation, seeks an Executive Director to further its mission of preserving open space in western Allegheny County, Pa.

The successful candidate will be responsible for HOLT’s strategic leadership, organizational development, land stewardship, financial oversight and fundraising. He/she will conduct HOLT’s daily activities and operations on a part-time, flexible, hourly basis. The position opens in January, 2012.

The successful candidate will possess a broad knowledge and passion for land conservation; expertise in grant writing and administration, operational budgeting and fiscal reporting; volunteer management and program development; ability to effectively communicate as spokesperson for HOLT; exceptional presentation and interpersonal skills; proficiency in computers and technology (MS Office, Peachtree, web authoring); and the ability to work independently.

Resumes and cover letters should be forwarded to: info@hollowoak.org.

PA Legislative Black Caucus Student Scholarships Now Available

Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D-Philadelphia), Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, announced the applications for the 2012 PLBC scholarship program are now being accepted through February 17. Only the first 250 applicants will be considered.

The PLBC will award five $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who currently attend school in the Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or the Chester Upland school districts, are classified as a minority, and plan to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year college in Pennsylvania.

“Higher education is the best way to develop a career with long-term financial security,” Rep. Waters said. “We are proud to be able to continue to offer these scholarships to give some students a helping hand on that road.”

Scholarship applicants will be evaluated on grades, with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average required, a statement of career and educational goals, school and community participation, work experience, family income and any unusual personal or family circumstances.

Scholarship recipients will also participate in a scheduled mock check presentation ceremony in the state Capitol on May 1.

Applications are available from the PLBC website.

End Of Fiscal Year Deficit Of $500 Million Expected, More Spending Cuts Coming

Budget Secretary Charles Zogby Tuesday said during his mid-year budget briefing the Corbett Administration expects an end of fiscal year deficit of $500 million. As a result, Secretary Zogby said his office is preparing a list of current year spending cuts the Governor will consider before the end of the year.
He said there is more than $1 billion in unavoidable spending growth which needs to be accommodated in the 2012-13 state budget. He pointed to a $520 million in increase school ($320 million) and state employee ($200 million) pension costs, $400 million increase in Medical Assistance and an $80 million increase in debt service, inspite of efforts to cut costs.

Secretary Zogby said the bottom line is the Governor is likely to need about $750 million to bring the FY 2012-13 budget into balance. He said the Governor is not going to make up this shortfall with tax increases.

State agencies have already been asked to submit a budget assuming a further 5 percent reduction in spending, with no exemptions, but Secretary Zogby said no decisions have been made on any line items.

He also noted next year there will be an increase in Unemployment Compensation insurance for businesses, additional steps taken in controlling Corrections costs and more cuts or automatic sequestration of federal funding which will all have an impact on planning for FY 2012-2013.

When asked if the Governor will be addressing transportation funding needs, Secretary Zogby said the state continues to see a weak economy and reductions in state revenue which Gov. Corbett said would affect his decision on when to propose a transportation funding package.

Secretary Zogby's Release

“Gov. Corbett inherited a $4.2 billion deficit when he took office in January,” Secretary Zogby said in delivering his mid-year budget briefing to legislators. “Working with the General Assembly, he was able to sign an on-time 2011-12 budget that did not raise taxes and that cut spending from the previous fiscal year by 4.1 percent, or $1.17 billion.

“The work of returning the Commonwealth to fiscal stability, however, is far from complete,” Secretary Zogby said. “Because of the continuing weakness in the national economy, we now project that revenues for the 2011-12 fiscal year will be $500 million below estimate. This anticipated shortfall, combined with projected growth of $800 million in Medical Assistance, debt service and school employee pension costs in 2012-13, will lead to serious budgetary challenges for the Commonwealth this year and next.”

When Gov. Corbett took office in January, the 2011-12 deficit was projected to be almost 14 percent of estimated expenditures, Zogby said. The enacted 2011-12 budget eliminated 66 appropriation line items, cutting $822 million in annual spending. It reduced funding for another 226 appropriations and consolidated an additional 52 appropriations to streamline government. The budget reduced administrative spending by 4 percent and cut more than 1,000 positions in Commonwealth government.

“These measures helped restore Pennsylvania’s budget to fiscal stability, but they mark the beginning, not the end, of the process,” Secretary Zogby said. “Given the state of the economy, the governor and lawmakers will need to make many more difficult decisions about Commonwealth spending in the months ahead.”

In his first year in office, Gov. Corbett has done much to stimulate the state’s economy by supporting employers and adding private-sector jobs, Secretary Zogby said. These accomplishments include reinstating the phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, increasing the Research and Development Tax Credits from $40 million to $55 million and creating the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission to develop recommendations on all aspects of natural gas drilling.

“The surest remedy for a weak economy is job creation,” Secretary Zogby said. “The governor’s focus on supporting free enterprise and limited, transparent and effective government is helping to restore Pennsylvania’s economy to health.”

Threats To Budget Stability

The greatest threats to state budget stability – in the current fiscal year and in 2012-13 – come from factors that are largely beyond the control of the administration, Secretary Zogby said. These include:

-- The persistent weakness in the national economy. Since the 2011-12 budget was enacted in June, most economists have significantly lowered their forecasts for economic growth for 2011 and 2012. -- The economic forecasting firm Global Insight, for example, has cut nearly in half its outlook for growth in real U.S. Gross Domestic Product in the Commonwealth’s 2011-12 fiscal year. In May the firm’s forecast for this indicator was 3.0 percent. By December, Global Insight had revised its forecast to 1.7 percent. Forecasts for growth in consumer expenditures and wages and salaries also have been revised downward.

-- The ongoing economic crisis in Europe. Uncertainty about the fate of the euro and the European Union, along with Europe’s growing debt crisis, has created global economic instability that has prolonged the stagnation of the U.S. economy and delayed its recovery.

-- Uncertainty over federal funding. The failure last month of the congressional deficit supercommittee triggered automatic sequestration cuts of 8.8 percent in federal funding to states. Without any action by Congress and the president, these will take effect in January 2013.

-- Health care cost inflation that is contributing to the rise in Medical Assistance health care and long-term care costs. In the 2012-13 budget, additional costs in these two areas alone are expected to be $400 million.

-- Commonwealth pension costs. Pension cost growth in the 2012-13 budget will be $520 million: $320 million for public school employees’ retirement and another $200 million for state employees’ retirement.

-- Debt service. This cost is expected to grow by $80 million in 2012-13, providing additional impetus for the administration and lawmakers to develop a capital spending plan that will put debt service costs on a sustainable path.

“Gov. Corbett’s commitment to fiscally responsible state government has not wavered since his election last year,” Secretary Zogby said. “If anything, the budgetary challenges facing the Commonwealth have only strengthened his resolve. By adhering to fiscal discipline and reality-based budgeting, Gov. Corbett will guide the Commonwealth through the tough times that lie ahead.”

A copy of the mid-year budget brief is available online.
NewsClips:
Corbett Looking To Freeze Spending In Face Of Revenue Shortfall
PA Plans To Freeze Some Spending to Keep Budget In Balance
PA Expects $500 Million Budget Deficit
Corbett Budget Head: Spending Freeze Plan In Works