The Fractivist-Friendly Ballot

Who To Vote For (If You Like Clean Water)

Far be it for me to tell people how to vote, except when there’s more at stake for Pennsylvania's natural environment than any general election in our history, ever. But don’t take my word for it. You'll find the most eco-friendly candidates in the race listed on Clean Water Action's Endorsements and Key Races pages. For the very latest links and news, visit Marcellus at the Polls. 

• President:  BARACK OBAMA [D]

Much as our watersheds would benefit from Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s progressive platform, until we have a viable three-party system, we can’t afford to hand a single vote over to Mitt Romney. Fractivists may not be thrilled with Obama lately, but he did stop the Keystone XL Pipeline, proving that he's not afraid to flex a little political muscle over the O&G industry. And at least he mentions renewable energy every time he misguidedly touts shale gas as a means to "American Energy Independence." Let’s plan to set him straight about the true cost of his “All of the Above” energy policy, once he's gained a second term. Meanwhile, the president was clever to take credit for the shale gas boom. It’s what any good Republican would do.

• United States Senator:  BOB CASEY [D]

Talk about a wake-up call! U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s once-commanding lead has been whittled down to a potentially close race against arch-Conservative, environmental menace, Tom Smith. Prepare for the GOP to glob on the negative ads, particularly about Casey's views on abortion and his support for Obamacare, as reported on CNN's Political Ticker Blog. This is serious, folks. Casey’s at bat, and it’s the bottom of the ninth! He needs our support. And we need Bob Casey to co-sponsor The FRAC Act, and to temper the negative impacts of that other Senator from Pennsylvania, Pat Toomey, who is unfortunately not up for re-election at this time.

Bob Casey: Endorsements, Articles and Voting Record 

Bob Casey Jr. for U.S. Senate, OurTake:, The York Daily Record, October 31, 2012

U.S. Senate Race: Democrat Bob Casey Says He'll Buck His Party To Benefit State, Candidate Profile by Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 14, 2012

Senator Robert 'Bob' P. Casey, Jr.'s Voting Records by ProjectVoteSmart.org

• Pennsylvania Attorney General:  KATHLEEN KANE [D]

One good reason to vote for Kathleen Kane is that’s she’s been endorsed by “innumerable progressive organizations, including labor, environment, education, LGBT and women’s groups. As Attorney General, she has promised to investigate Corbett’s role in stalling the Sandusky investigation.  She will also stand up for working families, making sure that they have a fair deal against corporate criminals,” according to KathleenKane.com.

An even better reason, the Republican State Leadership fears her! They must see her a very “able” opponent, because they spent about $400,000 in a botched attempt to slander Kane's professional reputation. The GOP ads were later pulled according to The Huffington Post in GOP Group Pulls Ad About Kathleen Kane After Rape Victim's Father Calls It A Lie. You can read more about that particular GOP debacle in Updated with Video: National GOP Group to Target Kane by PhillyTV on politicspa.com.

The PA GOP's in a lather because Kane dares to say things like, “I would fight to increase funding for the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit. Since the discovery of natural gas in Marcellus Shale regions, dozens of companies have descended upon Pennsylvania to extract our resources. Using a process known as fracking, these companies pump unknown chemicals into the ground, poisoning our water and harming our children. As attorney general, I would fight to ensure this process is stopped, and that those companies that destroy our environment are held accountable."  [Source:  The Morning Call, April 12, 2012]

More Articles About Kathleen Kane

Kathleen Kane for Attorney General of PA by Conservation Voters of PA 

Kathleen Kane For Attorney General by Intelligencer Journal

What Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Nominees Are Saying About Drilling by Scott Detrow, StateImpactPA, April 25, 2012

What Kathleen Kane Would Do About Fracking, KeystonePolitics.com

Marcellus Enters the Attorney General’s Race, Sort of…  by Susan Phillips, StateImpactPA, October 17, 2012

• Pennsylvania Auditor General:  EUGENE DEPASQUALE [D]

“For the first time in their histories, the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action have endorsed a candidate in the race for Pennsylvania Auditor General. Eugene DePasquale (D) received endorsements from both organizations today.” [Source: eugene4pa.com]

"‘Eugene’s dedication the environmental issues is so strong that we are honored to break precedent and offer our full endorsement,’ said Jeff Schmidt, director of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club. ‘Since his days in the Department of Environmental Protection and continuing during his time in the legislature, Eugene has led the way for increasing the use and producing of renewable energy in Pennsylvania.’”

What more do you need? Of all the candidates running for anything, DePasquale is the only one who really spells out a detailed plan to better manage the effects of unconventional shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania.

In particular, DePasquale tells NPR’s StateImpactPA that he would “Protect PA from possible hazards caused by the Marcellus Shale drilling by ordering a review of how the state is monitoring water pollution; Identify and eliminate wasteful and inefficient spending, freeing up money for critical programs in education, jobs creation, and transportation.”

But don’t believe the hype. Have a look at DePasquale’s voting record from ProjectVoteSmart.org to get a better idea of what his leadership as Auditor General would mean for Pennsylvania.

Articles and Press Releases About Eugene DePasquale

DePasquale: Tenacity, Independence, Key For Auditor General by Christine Haines, The Herald Standard, September 17, 2012.

For Auditor General Eugene DePasquale by Intelligencer Journal, via LancasterOnline.com, October 17, 2012

DePasquale: First Auditor General Endorsement in History of PA Sierra Club and Clean Water Action by the DePasquale for Auditor General Campaign, October 16, 2012

Auditor General Candidate DePasquale Promise Drilling Pollution-Related Audits, The Times-Tribune, October 12,2012

• Pennsylvania State Treasurer:  ROBERT M.McCORD [D]

Not just because he’s a Democrat. Actually, incumbent State Treasurer Rob McCord, is running on a platform of concrete ideas, which includes: “Investing the state's money to create jobs in Pennsylvania; Continuing to serve as the state's fiscal watchdog, cutting waste and excess, saving taxpayers money; and protecting seniors and pensions for the future.”

McCord gets props from some of Philly’s brightest bulbs, too. As the highest ranking Dem in the state government, Technically Philly credits McCord in Rob McCord, Pennsylvania State Treasurer: Philly Is One of Country’s Two Best Low-Cost Entrepreneurship Spots.

Articles About Robert McCord

Incumbent Has Advantage For Pa. Treasurer by Laura Olson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 8, 2012

 by AFCFirst Hatboro-Horsham.Patch.com, September 6, 2012

LOCAL RACES

• Pennsylvania State Senate, 17th District:  DAYLIN LEACH [D]

State Senator Daylin Leach has called out the Corbett Administration on the notorious “Physicians Gag Order” an alarmingly bad piece of legislation tucked into The Marcellus Shale Act of February, 2012. By April, Leach had introduced a bill to amend this aspect of the law. The bill never gained traction in the Republican-dominated senate, but the democrat’s point was made. Many patient advocacy groups have since joined an ongoing, legal challenge to the bill.

Leach cast a disappointing vote on SB367 in October 2012, which opened up state college campuses to oil and gas drilling, yet he’s been an otherwise strong proponent of conservation and sustainability. According to Leach’s campaign website, votedaylin.com, the candidate’s current focus is: “Increasing the state's share of public education funding [which] will result in better and more equitable schools for Pennsylvania's students; More funding for environmental protection and preserving open space is vitally important as natural gas drilling operations continue to ramp up in Pa.; Improving our roads and bridges is important for public safety and will help lure job-creating business to Pennsylvania.”

• Pennsylvania State Congress, 7th District:  GEORGE BADEY [D] 

George Badey wants to “Level the playing field for the middle class; Stop efforts to privatize Medicare; Ensure women have control over their own health decisions.” Badey is endorsed by United Auto Workers Region 9; Planned Parenthood Action Fund; and International Association of Iron Workers, Local 401.

According the issues page at Badey,com, the candidate believes “We must move forward with energy policies that limit our exposure to fluctuations in global energy prices and instead focus on promoting domestic energy production. I will support legislation that invests in clean energy jobs like solar, wind, geothermal, hybrid vehicles and next generation battery technology. At the same time we must ensure that our environment is protected by enforcing the standards of the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. I believe that the Halliburton Loophole, which exempts the fluids used in the natural gas extraction process of Hydraulic Fracturing from the protections of the Clean Water, Clean Air and Safe Drinking Water Acts, should be repealed.”

• Pennsylvania State Representative, 148thDistrict:  MARY JO DALEY [D]

Tapped in August 2012 to run for Rep. Mike Gerber’s newly vacated seat in 148th House District, Mary Jo Daley is no stranger to civic life. She has a long resume which includes serving on the Montgomery County Lands Trust Green Future Awards and The Montgomery County Commission on Women and Families. If Pennsylvania has a binder, Daley’s in it.

In an interview with Mike Welbacher in MainLineMediaNews.com, Tuesday, September 25, 2012, Daley conveys a "balanced" approach to gas drilling issues. “One of the challenges of Pennsylvania is the large number of municipalities with control over zoning and land-use issues. While many pro-drilling legislators in the statehouse would support a law allowing drilling to override local zoning ordinances and impose statewide regulations, Mary Jo would not 'take control away from the communities.... And solar and wind potentially provide jobs without the same level of damage' as Marcellus shale, she said."

• Pennsylvania State Representative, 166th District:  GREG VITALI [D]

The Sierra Club recently lavished a strong endorsement on the very pro-environment, incumbent Rep. Greg Vitali: "The Sierra Club endorses Greg Vitali for reelection to the PA House of Representatives, again. There are several reasons why we endorse this extraordinary legislator year after year. First, since his election in 1992 he has voted for the environment 98% of the time... Second, he's the environmental leader of the House... Third Greg's work for government reform ultimately will help the environment."

• Pennsylvania State Representative, 149th District:  TIM BRIGGS [D]

Who didn’t want to stand up and cheer when Rep. Tim Briggs cleared the state house floor with his bill proposing to investigate Governor Tom Corbett’s role in cover up the Jerry Sandusky’s crimes when he was Attorney General of Pennsylvania?

Chaos As Rep Calls For Investigation Into Corbett for Sandusky Investigation; Republicans Turn Off Lights and Flee by Tara Murtha, The Philadelphia Weekly, October 3, 2012

But when it comes to Pennsylvania’s environmental concerns best to get it straight from Briggs re-election campaign homepage:  “We live in a region blessed with beautiful natural resources that enhance our quality of life. Tim is committed to preserving our open spaces, supporting our parks and recreation areas, and protecting our clean air and clean water. We need to implement smart growth strategies in our region that promote economic growth while planning for traffic improvements, enhanced public transit, storm water management and environmental stewardship.

“The cost of natural gas and the way to offset it - Pennsylvania rests on one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world. In fact, Pennsylvania might hold enough recoverable gas to fuel the nation's needs for years. However, this opportunity comes at a cost--air pollution, road and transit damage, drinking water contamination, and billions of gallons of water taken from our streams. To protect our lands from the damages of gas drilling, Tim hasn't stopped advocating for stronger regulations and a severance tax.

“Renewable energy - Tim will continue state support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. He supports the development of cellulosic ethanol from sustainable raw sources like wood chips and agricultural waste, as well as biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil or animal fat. Tim knows we must reduce our reliance on non-renewable fuel sources that harm the environment. He supports implementation of a strong Green Building component designed to make our buildings more efficient.”

Tim Briggs is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club and AFL-CIO.

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For more local, fractivist-friendly candidate endorsements, please visit:  Clean Water Action “2012 General Election Endorsements” at www.cleanwater.org/page/pennsylvania-endorsements

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