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Professional Fire Fighters Association Endorses Dan Onorato For Governor

8/6/10

Professional Fire Fighters Association Endorses Dan Onorato For Governor
Pennsylvania first responders recognize Onorato’s executive experience, ability to balance the budget

PITTSBURGH: The Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association endorsed Dan Onorato for Governor and Scott Conklin for Lieutenant Governor yesterday. The endorsement adds to the growing support the Onorato-Conklin ticket has received from organizations representing working Pennsylvanians.

            “I am pleased to receive the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association,” said Onorato. “Fire fighters are essential to protecting our communities, and this endorsement is recognition of my experience running Pennsylvania’s second largest county and my plans to improve quality of life and protect public safety across the Commonwealth.”

           The 10,000-member PPFFA is a member of the International Association Fire Fighters, which represents more than 297,000 professional fire fighters and paramedics throughout the United States and Canada.

              In June, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett – who has no experience balancing a budget – appeared on Fox 29’s “Good Day Philadelphia” and, when asked by anchor Sheinelle Jones if it was his position that fire fighters’ jobs don’t matter when it comes to budget cuts, responded: “the short answer is yes.”

             “The Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Associations is proud to endorse Dan Onorato for Governor because he is the one candidate who understands the valuable role that first responders play in neighborhoods across the state and who has the experience and the vision to lead Pennsylvania,” said PPFFA President Art Martynuska.

             Under Onorato’s leadership, Allegheny County’s unemployment rate is lower than both the state’s and the nation’s. The region has also received numerous accolades for its job growth, ability to attract graduates and families and quality of life. Currently, more people are working in Allegheny County than in any other county in Pennsylvania.

           In addition to PPFFA, Onorato has been endorsed by the Service Employees International Union, AFSCME, Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council, Pennsylvania Steelworkers, Pennsylvania State Education Association and Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters statewide labor organizations.

8/6/10

Corbett Keeps Dodging Debates, Evades Questions About Whose Side He’s On
Onorato asks 5th debate question: “How will you preserve public safety with ‘voluntary’ drilling standards that are written by the gas industry?”

PITTSBURGH: With continued silence from Tom Corbett a month and a half after Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato first challenged him to a series of debates, the Onorato campaign today issued the fifth debate question:

After opposing a Marcellus shale severance tax that every other major gas-producing state except Pennsylvania already has, and calling for drilling standards that are “voluntary,” how are you going to protect the drinking water that families rely on and preserve Pennsylvania’s environment?

            In a week when one front-page headline declared “Report: Well-drilling violations near 1,500 for Marcellus Shale,” [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8/3/2010], voters deserve to hear how both candidates would balance economic and public safety interests when it comes to natural gas drilling.

            Onorato has issued a detailed policy paper on the subject, calling for the successful and safe development of Marcellus shale resources in order to create jobs for Pennsylvanians, foster economic development and protect the environment.

Onorato backs a severance tax on Marcellus shale drilling that is competitive with other states, and he would use the proceeds to fund enforcement by the Department of Environmental Protection, to help local communities address the impact of drilling on their roads and other services, and to pay for the renewal of Growing Greener – the state’s major environmental conservation and preservation programs.

            Corbett opposes a severance tax, so that the oil and gas industry can maximize its profits.

            Corbett has also called for “voluntary drilling standards” [Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 6/23/2010] based on “consensus” with the industry [Corbett public statement, 6/23/2010] – which would likely mean environmental regulations are even weaker than they are today.

             And Corbett is against a temporary halt to new drilling leases in State Forests [Associated Press, 5/12/2010].

            “Dan Onorato will ensure that the Marcellus shale leads to new jobs for Pennsylvanians at the same time as we protect our environment, while Tom Corbett sees only one side of the issue: the industry’s side,” said Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman. “That is why Pennsylvanians deserve to hear the candidates debate – and it’s why Tom Corbett is refusing.”

            Corbett has built a reputation for choosing sides against average Pennsylvanians. Pressed this week on his earlier comment that “the jobs are there” but unemployed Pennsylvanians do not want to go back to work, Corbett “brushed aside the issue” and “sidesteps [the] controversial comments.” [Citizens Voice, 8/3/2010]

            And given the opportunity to preserve health care for 46,000 working Pennsylvanians or protect the $5.6 billion bank accounts of four major insurance companies, Corbett chose to protect the insurance industry and oppose a 3-year extension of the adultBasic health insurance program.

            So it makes sense that Corbett is refusing to debate. In fact, Monday marks the first official gubernatorial forum that Corbett is ducking: when the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania meets, its members will hear from the candidates separately because the Corbett campaign refused to share a stage.

8/6/10

Onorato Meets Small Business Owners, Discusses Plan for Jobs

PHILADELPHIA: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato met with Philadelphia area small business owners today and discussed his plans for jobs and economic development at the Philadelphia Business and Technology Center.

“Getting Pennsylvania’s economy back on track will be my top priority as Governor,” Onorato said. “Small businesses are vital to our economic success, and I am the only candidate with the experience and the vision to create the environment for Pennsylvania businesses to thrive.”

Small businesses are responsible for more than half of the nation’s private-sector economic activity and over 60% of new jobs.

“Small firms are the proving ground for innovation and the lifeline of strong communities,” Onorato said. “In Allegheny County, I focused on small businesses because they drive our economy in a big way. As Governor, I’ll bring that same commitment to private-sector job creation to Harrisburg.”

            Under Onorato’s leadership, Allegheny County’s unemployment rate is significantly lower than both the state’s and the nation’s. There are more people working in Allegheny County than in any other county in Pennsylvania, and the region has received accolades for its job growth, quality of life and ability to attract college graduates and families.

            As Allegheny County Executive, Onorato has championed economic development and aligned workforce development programs to meet the needs of businesses. His plan to grow Pennsylvania’s economy, which was released in January, will:

·      Establish a climate where businesses can succeed;
·      Launch a “Grow Your Own” success strategy to help firms start, expand and prosper;
·      Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation;
·      Boost export opportunities for Pennsylvania companies and attract foreign companies to the state; and
·      Ensure that Pennsylvania’s workforce is prepared for and able to access high-skill, well-paying jobs.

          “I have been working with small businesses in Allegheny County to address their needs and the obstacles they face,” Onorato said. “I will do the same as Pennsylvania’s Governor.”

8/3/10

Would Corbett End Affordable Health Insurance Access for Those with Pre-existing Conditions?
With no plan of his own, GOP nominee plays politics with healthcare, sides with insurance companies

PITTSBURGH: Beginning tomorrow, approximately 3,500 Pennsylvanians with serious pre-existing medical conditions will start signing up for affordable health insurance under a program that Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett has indicated he will end if elected Governor.

             Pennsylvania is receiving $160 million from the federal government as part of the national health insurance reform law to provide healthcare coverage to people with pre-existing conditions who are not able to find insurance on their own. Participants will be responsible for paying $283.20 per month, plus co-pays.

But in a recent fundraising letter, Corbett wrote: “as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and soon-to-be Governor, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I go along with this unconstitutional, big-government, special-interest takeover of our healthcare.”

            “Does Tom Corbett even realize that the impact of using the Attorney General’s Office for politics and fundraising is that Pennsylvania taxpayers with pre-existing conditions would lose their healthcare?” asked Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman.

            Just last week, Corbett sided with the major insurance companies over Pennsylvania’s working families, opposing a 3-year extension of the adultBasic health care program that would require insurance companies to use a small portion of their $5.6 billion surpluses to prevent 45,000 low-income working adults from losing their healthcare. The extension would only last until the national healthcare reform law takes effect in 2014, though Corbett has sued to block those provisions as well.

            “Tom Corbett has promised not to ‘go along’ with a program that provides affordable health insurance to Pennsylvanians with serious pre-existing conditions – just like he refused to go along with using some of the insurance companies’ $5.6 billion bank accounts to help Pennsylvania families keep their healthcare,” said Herman. “Dan Onorato is the only candidate who understands that skyrocketing health care costs are crippling the middle class and crushing our small businesses.”

             As Attorney General in the 1990’s, Corbett refused to join a multi-state lawsuit against tobacco companies. Corbett’s Republican successor, Attorney General Mike Fisher, later helped reach a 14-state settlement with a tobacco company. The adultBasic program was ultimately launched by Governor Ridge using funding from the Tobacco Settlement Master Agreement.

            More recently, Corbett announced as Attorney General and a gubernatorial candidate earlier this year that he would join a lawsuit to stop the national healthcare reform law. It later emerged that the Attorney General’s Office had discussed its plans with the Republican State Leadership Committee, the national organization dedicated to electing Republicans to statewide row offices and which contributed heavily to Corbett’s 2004 campaign.

            Tom Corbett’s official website says that the Attorney General’s Office “aims to protect the public from unfair health care practices and help shape Pennsylvania’s policies in favor of the consumer.”

Yet it was the state Insurance Department – not Corbett – that launched an investigation earlier this year into whether small businesses were being unfairly charged high insurance premiums.

August 2, 2010

Onorato Raises $3.35 Million Since May Primary
Gubernatorial Nominee Shows Strong Fundraising Support as Momentum Grows

PITTSBURGH: Today, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato’s campaign announced that it has raised more than $3.35 million since winning the May 18 Democratic primary just 2-and-a-half months ago. To date, Onorato’s campaign has raised more than $13 million.

“Our campaign is pleased with the support we are receiving across the state,” said Onorato campaign manager Kevin Kinross. “Since winning the primary, voters have responded positively to Dan’s message of economic growth and his plans for revitalizing Pennsylvania’s economy. As we move closer to Election Day, Pennsylvania’s voters are seeing the clear differences between the candidates.”

Current polls show that the race has tightened. The latest public polling shows that Onorato is gaining momentum as more people realize in the wake of Tom Corbett's blaming the unemployed for being out of work that he's simply not up to the job.

July 30, 2010

Onorato Calls for Reform at Delaware River Port Authority
Onorato Says His Reform Platform is Essential to Regaining Trust of Taxpayers, Creating Positive Jobs Climate

PHILADELPHIA: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato today called for reform at the Delaware River Port Authority as part of his plan to make government serve the taxpayers and create the environment for economic growth in Pennsylvania.

          “We need to make government live within its means and work on behalf of the taxpayers,” Onorato said. “Getting Pennsylvania’s economy back on track starts with reforming government and creating an environment where businesses can invest with confidence.”

          Onorato called for annual independent audits at the DRPA, a permanent end to perks and conflicts of interest, full transparency for the board’s decisions and meetings, stronger fiscal oversight and contracting accountability, and penalties for any violations.

          Onorato also praised Gov. Rendell and NJ Gov. Christie for their plans to reform the DRPA, and said that the next Pennsylvania Governor must be committed to the DRPA’s reform for the long-term.

“It is time to put the taxpayers first,” Onorato said. “That is what I did when I reformed Allegheny County, and it’s what I will do as Governor. I am the only candidate for Governor who is not part of the Harrisburg insider culture, and that’s what it will take to turn our economy around.”

          Onorato supports a Constitutional Convention focused on reforming government and he released his plan to reform Harrisburg last fall, which includes:

Cutting the size and the cost of the Legislature, and enacting term limits;
Eliminating per diems, WAMS and the leadership’s slush fund;
Making the budget process work on-time and with complete transparency – and permanently docking the Governor and Legislature’s pay for each day if it is ever late;
Putting limits on campaign contributions; and
Stopping gerrymandering of legislative districts.

As Allegheny County Executive, Onorato already has a record of reforming government to save taxpayers money and to make the region a place where businesses want to invest and create jobs. Under Onorato’s leadership, Allegheny County consolidated six unnecessary elected positions, cut waste and patronage and made government more efficient. Running the state’s second-largest county, Onorato has enacted six consecutive balanced budgets – each one passing on time and never increasing property taxes.

“This election is about jobs and the economy,” Onorato said. “I have a record of making government live within its means, turning reform into reality and creating an environment where companies want to invest. That is exactly what Pennsylvania needs from the next Governor.”

July 30, 2010

Corbett Dodges Debates, So Onorato Campaign Asks Fourth Question:
"How Do You Justify Politicizing Your Office?"
Why Can't Corbett Debate? Can He Explain His Repeated Failure to Separate Government Work from Campaigning?

PITTSBURGH: More than a month after Dan Onorato challenged him to a series of debates, Tom Corbett is silent. Because of the lack of response from the Republican nominee, today Onorato’s campaign issued the fourth question to Tom Corbett:

How do you explain repeatedly misusing government resources to aid your campaign? Who is responsible for using taxpayer funds to push your campaign literature - and how will you hold that person accountable?

          Yesterday, Corbett’s misuse of his office was exposed when the political website, PA2010, published a photo of Corbett campaign literature displayed at a booth sponsored by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and paid for with taxpayer funds. Corbett’s office responded with promises to “investigate” the wrongdoing and offered implausible excuses for how campaign materials could be found prominently featured at a table set up and staffed by government employees.

          Corbett’s excuse might have been more credible if this had been the first time he had been caught mixing politics and government work. But Corbett’s history in this regard has been well-established.

          While Attorney General in the 1990’s, Corbett had questioned whether his office had the resources or expertise to pursue a lawsuit against tobacco companies. But running for Governor, Corbett’s taxpayer-funded Attorney General’s Office had no trouble getting involved in two major lawsuits: an effort to overturn national health care legislation and to score political points on illegal immigration.

          “For a candidate that stakes his reputation on prosecuting legislators that spend state money on campaigns, Corbett is coming perilously close to doing exactly what he accuses others of doing,” the Harrisburg Patriot-News editorial board noted in an editorial on Corbett’s health care lawsuit. [3/26/2010]

          Then, in May, Corbett subpoenaed Twitter in order to expose anonymous bloggers who have been critical of him – a move that led the Patriot-News to call on Corbett to consider resigning to “assure the integrity of his office….” [5/23/2010]

          And it has now been almost 4 months of silence since Corbett announced his investigation into fraudulent petitions in a Republican ally’s campaign. On March 29, Corbett’s official staff said he would take over a Delaware County case alleging that GOP Congressional candidate Pat Meehan’s nomination petitions contained fraudulent signatures – even though the same Republican officials who circulated petitions for Meehan also did it for Corbett

          At the time, Corbett’s official Attorney General spokesman – now his campaign staffer – said the line between campaigning and the AG’s office was clear: “The campaign for governor is completely separate from the office of the Attorney General.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/3/2010].

          Will he say the same thing following the photograph of Corbett campaign material at a taxpayer-funded county fair booth?

           “Tom Corbett’s pattern of behavior is typical of a Harrisburg politician,” Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman said. “Tom Corbett owes voters an explanation about why he has politicized his office for the purpose of winning an election.”

          Onorato first challenged Tom Corbett in a June 22 letter requesting the Republican nominee agree to a series of 14 debates across the Commonwealth. With no response from Corbett’s campaign, Onorato then sent letters to leading, non-profit groups asking them organize and moderate the debates. Corbett has dodged requests that he participate.

Onorato Calls for Extending Health Care Plan for Working Pennsylvanians
adultBasic program funded by insurance companies will expire in December if no action is taken

PITTSBURGH: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato today joined working families and medical professionals in calling on the state’s large insurance companies to continue to provide affordable health care to over 45,000 working Pennsylvanians for just three more years.

The Community Health Reinvestment agreement, which funds the adultBasic insurance program, is set to expire on December 31, 2010, and leave more than 45,000 Pennsylvanians without healthcare coverage until the federal healthcare reform law fully takes effect in 2014. The program is largely funded from the state’s tax-exempt Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance companies, which together have untapped reserves of $5.6 billion.

            “Skyrocketing health care costs are crippling the middle class and crushing our small businesses,” Onorato told the “Rally for adultBasic” at the Birmingham Free Clinic. “Asking insurance companies to keep over 45,000 of our fellow citizens from losing their health care for just a few more years is both fair and reasonable.”

            The rally was one of five events held across the state calling on the insurance companies to reach an agreement that would extend adultBasic until Pennsylvanians can receive assistance purchasing affordable health insurance in 2014 through the federal healthcare reform law.

           “Working families across Pennsylvania rely on adultBasic for affordable health care so they can receive the medical care they need to keep their jobs,” Onorato said. “During these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that Pennsylvanians do not lose access to health care.”

           The adultBasic health insurance program was launched in 2002 using Pennsylvania’s share of the settlement with tobacco companies. The Blues have been contributing to adultBasic for the last six years.

           As of June 2010, the adultBasic insurance program provided coverage to 45,927 Pennsylvanians, and 397,671 people are on the waiting list. Most adultBasic participants earn between $10,000 and $20,000 per year.

           In 2009, the four Blues insurance providers reported more than $5.6 billion in reserves. During that year, they paid approximately $125 million to help fund adultBasic. Extending adultBasic until 2014 would cost the insurance companies an estimated $200 million per year, which is equal to less than 4% of their reserves.

7/28/10

Judge for Yourself… Which Tom Corbett Should We Listen To Now?
After candy company fails to pan out, Corbett cites newspaper want-ads as source for economic news

PITTSBURGH: After dodging questions about his repeated remarks that the “jobs are there” but Pennsylvanians would rather “sit there” on unemployment benefits than go back to work, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett tried this morning to pretend that it never happened at all.

            Appearing on Fox 29’s “Good Day Philadelphia,” Corbett had the following exchange:

Host: “Can you clear this up for me? Did you say: Hey, listen, I opened the want ads in the papers, and it seems like there’s a lot of jobs to me, I think a lot of people would rather collect unemployment benefits than look for a job.”

Tom Corbett: “No, I didn’t say it that way at all.”

But that is exactly what Tom Corbett has said.

            As the Delaware County Daily Times reported in today’s newspaper:

“When asked about a statement he made earlier this month that ‘the jobs are there, but if we keep extending unemployment, people are just going to sit there,’ Corbett pointed to the classified section of the Philadelphia Inquirer that promises ‘thousands of jobs here (in print) and online.’

‘So you make the distinction whether there are jobs out there or not,’ he said to an Inquirer reporter. ‘I’m reporting what you report. Your newspaper says there’s thousands of jobs. Do I know that to be true? I don’t. I’ve got to trust your newspaper.’

Corbett would not say if he thinks people are not taking advantage of those jobs, but did say he wanted to focus on the future and job development, not what he had said in the past.

‘Do you have a classified list? Are there jobs on there? … How would you interpret that?’ he said….” [7/28/2010]

Prior to citing newspaper want ads as the source for his knowledge of the economy, Corbett had initially “pointed to one candy company in Camp Hill as an example, saying the owner told him they hired 50 European college students for the summer when the company was unable to fill its full-time positions.” [Capitolwire, 7/9 2010]

            The online news service Capitolwire subsequently reported that the “Candymaker says Corbett misstated their employment issues.” [7/14/2010]

            In fact, there are currently 591,000 Pennsylvanians who are out of work and looking for jobs. As Capitolwire also noted: “The Republican nominee for governor is wrong, according to even the most respected government-shrinking, anti-tax-hike state think tank around, about whether the jobs are there.” [7/10/2010]

And in March, following a visit to a job referral center in Lancaster, Corbett similarly “provocatively suggested that Congress’ decision to extend unemployment benefits might be having the opposite of its intended effect and actually be serving as a disincentive to go back to work. ‘What I see here are people looking for jobs, but that’s only 10 percent [of the unemployed],’ he said. ‘What about the other 80 or 90 percent?’” [Capitol Ideas, 3/18/2010]

            “Tom Corbett is learning the hard way that his words matter, and time and time again they show he is out of touch with Pennsylvania families,” said Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman. “Pennsylvania needs a Governor who understands the problems we are facing and has the solutions to turn the state around, and Tom Corbett clearly does not measure up.”

Tom Corbett: The Jobs are Still There

7/28/10

Tom Corbett: The Jobs are Still There
Is the third time a charm for GOP nominee’s attempt to blame the unemployed for unemployment?

PITTSBURGH: Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett today insisted for at least the third time in five months that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate – the highest in over 25 years – is actually the fault of out-of-work Pennsylvanians.

            As reported on Philly.com this afternoon:

           “Speaking to reporters after a campaign stop in Delaware County, the Republican nominee for governor noted that newspapers across the state are carrying line after line of help-wanted ads.

           ‘Are there jobs out there?... How would you interpret that?’ he asked.

           Corbett reported seeing one newspaper page that he said promised thousands of jobs listings in print and online.

           ‘You guys asked me if there are jobs out there,’ he said to a pair of reporters. ‘If I am a common citizen, the average citizen, and I look at a newspaper . . . and I see jobs – what’s the answer to that question.’”

            There are currently 591,000 Pennsylvanians who are out of work and looking for jobs. As the online news service Capitolwire noted: “The Republican nominee for governor is wrong, according to even the most respected government-shrinking, anti-tax-hike state think tank around, about whether the jobs are there.”

            “Tom Corbett still doesn’t get it,” Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Onorato said. “Pennsylvania needs a Governor who can get our economy back on track, and Tom Corbett’s remarks prove once again that I am the only candidate with the understanding, the experience and the plan to turn this economy around.”

            Corbett’s comments today follow withering criticism for his earlier repeated statements that unemployment benefits encourage out-of-work Pennsylvanians to stay home even though “the jobs are there.”

            In March, following a visit to a job referral center in Lancaster, Corbett “provocatively suggested that Congress’ decision to extend unemployment benefits might be having the opposite of its intended effect and actually be serving as a disincentive to go back to work. ‘What I see here are people looking for jobs, but that’s only 10 percent [of the unemployed],’ he said. ‘What about the other 80 or 90 percent?’” [Capitol Ideas, March 18, 2010]

            And earlier this month, Corbett told WITF public radio that: “People don’t want to come back to work while they still have unemployment…. The jobs are there, but if we keep extending unemployment the people are going to sit there…” [July 9, 2010]

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Dan Onorato Releases Plan to Create Jobs Through Smart Energy and Environmental Policies

January 29, 2010

Dan Onorato Plan to Create Jobs Through Smart Energy and Environmental Policies
"Onorato Plan for Sustainability" Will Make Pennsylvania a Leader in the New Energy Economy While Protecting Our Environment

PITTSBURGH: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato today released his plan to create good new jobs and protect consumers through smart energy policies that also protect our environment. The “Onorato Plan for Sustainability” will enable energy production and energy conservation to thrive, while responsibly protecting and enhancing the environment. The end result will be a stronger economy and environment to pass down to the next generations of Pennsylvanians.

“Pennsylvania will experience unprecedented economic growth and enhanced quality of life if we use our wealth of natural resources in a forward-looking, responsible manner,” said Onorato. “Energy production and environmental protection are no longer mutually exclusive. We can – we must – be smart about how we are developing and using energy, for our economy, for our environment and for the future.”

"The Onorato Plan for Sustainability" calls for:

Making Pennsylvania the national leader in creating green-collar jobs and new green businesses;Maximizing Pennsylvania's energy production portfolio to achieve both economic and environmental benefits;
Keeping Pennsylvanians in their homes and jobs by lowering their energy bills;
Fulfilling our commitment as stewards of Pennsylvania's environment; and
Encouraging smart and sustainable growth.

Significantly, in the new policy paper, Onorato also addressed extracting natural gas from the Marcellus shale, saying it will lead to extraordinary job creation, as will the growth of the diverse industries that are necessary for the broader economy to succeed.

“Marcellus shale can be a powerful economic engine for the Commonwealth – creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, providing affordable clean energy and spurring new business creation to support the industry,” said Onorato. “But it must be done right or we will lose out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The recent lease of state land shows there’s a demand, but we need to ensure the extraction is done correctly and in concert with environmental protections.” To achieve these goals, Onorato supports:

An Impact Tax on the natural gas that companies extract, which will bring Pennsylvania in line with other gas-producing states.
Prudent investment of the revenues from this Impact Tax by providing support to impacted communities and for Growing Greener.
Ensuring appropriate permitting, monitoring and enforcement.
Addressing water levels and contamination.

          At the same time, Onorato supports ensuring that all of the elements of Pennsylvania’s portfolio are part of the state’s energy production future. He supports an increase in the amount of renewable energy – including solar and wind power – that is required in the state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, and will renew the Pennsylvania Sunshine Program so that companies and homeowners can continue to count on rebates to make solar projects feasible by assisting with the up-front costs. Onorato will also support efforts to achieve and use advanced coal technology.

          Onorato will also launch the “PA Saves” Program – a landmark initiative to save families and businesses money while helping to save the country from ever-increasing emissions. Experts estimate that 30% of Pennsylvania’s energy needs in 2025 could be met through efficiency measures that are already widely available. Energy conservation and efficiency upgrades – like replacing inefficient windows and heaters, installing Green roofs and switching to Green lighting – save money over a few years through lower energy bills but have a relatively high up-front cost that often make the projects unfeasible. Onorato will solve this problem by creating the PA Saves Fund and encouraging local municipalities and authorities to offer similar programs. Residents and businesses would be able to borrow to cover the up-front costs of Green upgrades, and pay back over a number of years through their municipal or electric bill.

          Onorato believes that there is no longer a choice to be made between energy production and environmental protection. That’s why he will continue the landmark program “Growing Greener” and use revenue from the Marcellus shale Impact Tax to fund Growing Greener 3 – the third phase of an investment strategy that was enacted by Governor Ridge and then built upon by Governor Rendell. Under Onorato, Growing Greener 3 will include:

Farmland preservation and other green space preservation – with the goal of 700,000 acres covered by 2015 – a two-thirds increase;
Addressing watershed needs and cleaning up rivers and streams;
Cleaning up brownfields and abandoned mines so that they can be returned to productive use or maintained as green space for community use;
Improving state parks and other recreational resources;
Supporting the infrastructure needs of the Game Commission and Fish & Boat Commission;
Expanding recycling;
Supporting community development and historic preservation; and
Advanced energy deployment.

As Allegheny County Executive, Dan Onorato has made Western Pennsylvania a leader in sustainability and the Energy Economy – bringing the region new jobs while saving taxpayers money through better use of energy. Pennsylvanians can have confidence in Onorato’s commitment to these issues because they can see the results of his leadership in Allegheny County.

Click here to read "The Onorato Plan for Sustainability: Growing Pennsylvania's Economy through Leadership in Energy, Environmental & Smart Growth Policies."

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