Before your legislator returns to Harrisburg, stop by for a chat! It’s an election year, so they may be especially interested in what you have to say. Any or all of the following issues are near and dear to UUPLAN’s heart.

Reform campaign finance NOW!
Standing on the side of love
Is it getting warm in here?

 

Reform campaign finance NOW!
When it comes to clean elections, Pennsylvania is bringing up the rear. Thirty-nine other states restrict the amount of money that individuals and organizations may give to political candidates. In Pennsylvania, we need to break the bond between affluent special interests and powerful elected officials who control the governing process, and thus public policy. Basic elements of proposed campaign reform legislation include:

  • Limiting the size of contributions that can be given to candidates, PACs, and political parties;
  • Restricting the total amount of contributions candidates may accept from PACs and parties;
  • Restricting the time period during which contributions can be solicited or given.

Better disclosure and access to financial contribution and spending information will be advanced by the following reforms:

  • Computerizing the State Bureau of Elections reports and posting candidates' disclosure reports on the Internet in a fully searchable database; and
  • Staffing the Bureau of Elections sufficiently to enforce the current law.

Members of the state House and Senate need to hear from constituents about reforming the campaign finance system in Pennsylvania. Citizens are asked to VISIT, write, call, or e-mail their state representative and senator with the following message:

(To representatives)
Please support House Bill 2162, which will establish limits on campaign contributions to candidates for the General Assembly or statewide office. Pennsylvania is one of only 11 states without such limits. It is important to curtail the undue influence over public policy that results from extremely large contributions that are allowed in Pennsylvania today. In addition, this bill will require better and more frequent disclosure of the identity of campaign contributors. It will require that political action committees and others who make contributions submit reports electronically. The reports will then have to be posted on the Internet.

(To senators)
Please support Senate Bill 1269, which will establish limits on campaign contributions to candidates for the General Assembly or statewide office. Pennsylvania is one of only 11 states without such limits. It is important to curtail the undue influence over public policy that results from extremely large contributions that are allowed in Pennsylvania today. In addition, this bill will require better and more frequent disclosure of the identity of campaign contributors. It will require that political action committees and others who make contributions submit reports electronically. The reports will then have to be posted on the Internet.

House Bill 2162 is sponsored by Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia). Cosponsors include Reps. Mike Carroll, Robert Freeman, Jaret Gibbons, Neal Goodman, Barbara McIlvaine Smith, Michael O’Brien, Brad Roae, Steve Santarsiero, and John Yudichak. All of these sponsors should be thanked for their support. This bill has been passed by the House State Government Committee and is currently in the Appropriations Committee.

Senate Bill 1269 is sponsored by Sen. Jane Earll (R-Erie). Cosponsors include Senators Lisa Boscola, Michael Brubaker, Jay Costa, Ted Erickson, Lawrence Farnese, Wayne Fontana, Richard Kasunic, Sean Logan, Robert Mensch, Raphael Musto, Michael O’Pake, John Rafferty, Christine Tartaglione, LeAnna Washington, Michael Waugh, and Mary Jo White. All of these sponsors should also be thanked. This bill is in the Senate State Government Committee.

Any individual’s representative and senator can be identified by entering a ZIP code in the box at http://www.legis.state.pa.us

 

Standing on the side of love
Have you been inspired by the UUA’s Standing on the Side of Love campaign? Try bringing some of that love home. In Pennsylvania, GLBT persons enjoy no protection from discrimination in housing, lending, employment, or public accommodations. That distinguishes us (not in a good way) from every state surrounding us. Ask you legislator to:

  • cosponsor HB300 (adding protection from discrimination in employment, housing, lending and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to the Human Relations Act) and vote it out of the House and
  • cosponsor and advocate for passage of HB745, the Hate Crimes Bill which adds those same categories of people to existing protected classes.

 

Is it getting warm in here?
UUs are passionate about protecting our beautiful state. That is why we are asking UUPLAN members to advocate for HB 2405, also known as the Clean Energy and Green Jobs bill. Given the lack of Federal action on climate change, this bill represents a real opportunity for Pennsylvania UUs to contribute to the battle against climate change by affecting energy use in our own state.

The bill is presently on the House schedule for the session beginning September 13, indicating that a vote is likely in September. 

HB 2405 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by:

  • raising the amount of solar power sold in Pennsylvania from 0.5% to 3%. This brings us more in line with our neighbors in Maryland and New Jersey, which have set their requirements at over 2%. 
  • increasing clean energy sources in Pennsylvania from 8% to 15%. The increase will help Pennsylvania stay competitive in the solar, wind, and other clean energy markets, thereby providing much needed economic growth in the state. 
  • setting permitting requirements for carbon sequestration facilities and establishing an Indemnification Fund to be funded by the utility industry (and used to pay for monitoring and remediation, should any accidents occur).

PennFuture is our partner on environmental issues. To learn more about this bill, please read PennFuture’s fact sheet.

 

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UUs Bring Their Voices to the Public Square

UUPLAN Board Member Cynthia Jones and Celia Sharp, a fellow member of the Buxmont UU Fellowship, meet with Gov. Rendell at a March 9, 2009 conference in Harrisburg organized by UUPLAN partner PA Health Access Network (PHAN). Cynthia is UUPLAN's point person on health care issues. Celia is a volunteer at a free clinic in Doylestown and advocates for health care for undocumented workers and their families.

Rep. Tony J. Payton Jr. (Democrat, Philadelphia County) joined a long list of speakers at the March 17, 2009 rally for HB 300. The consensus was that the time has come for ALL Pennsylvanians to enjoy basic rights. However, the speakers reminded the crowd that the work has only just begun.


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