Fund News

Ballot Access Project:

The Fund is currently funding a study of 2010 nominating petitions of sitting legislators to determine the extent of fraud and/or other abuses in signature collection.  The study will quantify the percentage of questionable and invalid signatures appearing on candidates' petitions to appear on primary ballots.  The Fund will make the results known to the Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition as part of an effort to encourage legislators to introduce and pass the Voters' Choice Act.

The Fund has plans to lobby the legislature to pass the Voters' Choice Act.  This requires funding to hire lobbyists with access to sitting legislators.  Your check would go a long way towards helping us begin this process in 2011.  Legislators in major political parties have risked or received criminal convictions to keep third party and independent candidates off the Pennsylvania ballot because they know that ballot access can bring about change.  Show your support for sound environmental initiatives by making a contribution in any amount to the Fund.

Marcellus Shale:

We monitor developments on an ongoing basis.

On April 20, 2011, a drilling rig in Bradford County malfunctioned, pouring thousands of gallons of chemical laden water over farmland and into streams.  The failure continued for two days.

In his 2012 budget proposal, Gov. Tom Corbett (who received $800,000 in campaign contributions from the gas industry) requested that funds to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Extension be halved.  The Extension provides technical support for PA farmers.  Lately it has provided legal and technical advice to farmers and other landowners who are considering leasing drilling rights.  The Extension informs farmers about potential issues in gas leases and has been an invaluable resources in helping them protect themselves when negotiating with sophisticated gas drilling firms.