Bret Binder (D) Urges Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Uphold Ruling on ACT 13

West Chester, PA –The Pennsylvania Supreme Court was scheduled to hear oral arguments on October 17 on an appeal of the Commonwealth Court decision that overturned ACT 13’s limitation of local zoning control state wide. Act 13 was passed by the legislature earlier this year despite the outcries of environmental groups and was considered to be one of the most gas and oil company friendly laws in the nation. Among the main giveaways to gas and oil companies was the elimination of local township oversight through zoning ordinances to decide where drilling could occur.  Speaking to supporters, Bret Binder, Democratic Party Candidate for the 156th District State House race, stated, “We must insure that our local government, our townships and municipalities, have the ability to protect our environment.”

Environmental groups, such as Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, and Conversation Voters of PA, castigated the passing of ACT 13. Joe Nye, Program Organizer for the nationally acclaimed environmental group Clean Water Action, stated, “The passage of Act 13 did a real injustice to Pennsylvania's citizens.  It put our drinking water supplies and our communities' health at risk for the sake of creating larger profits for the oil industry. The legislators who voted for the passage of Act 13 must be held accountable for their decision to take away local zoning rights from municipalities in Pennsylvania.” Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, voiced similar sentiments stating, “Act 13 is one of the worst pieces of environmental legislation to be passed in Pennsylvania and speaks volumes about whose interests the majority of the Legislature and the Governor are protecting.”

Following Act 13’s passage seven municipalities sued and prevailed when the PA Commonwealth Court ruled that the legislature’s attempt to override local zoning control was unconstitutional.  Binder stated that “Overturning this unconstitutional portion of the bill was an important victory for Pennsylvanians. I believe that Act 13 needs to be re-drafted to include stronger environmental oversight and fair taxation of the gas companies.  I hope that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the Commonwealth Court.”

Bret Binder’s opposition, Republican Dan Truitt, disagreed that ACT 13 was a giveaway to the gas and oil industry. Truitt’s campaign has issued statements that Truitt was “Making gas drillers pay” and that by passing “a new law” Truitt had “implement[ed] environmental oversight that is among the toughest in the nation.” In a response to reporters, Bret Binder argued that his opponent is misleading our community, “His ‘environmental impact fee’ is an effective taxation of approximately 1% when we need to be taxing at a rate of 6-9%, in line with the national average.  Our failure to fairly tax gas and oil companies is costing Pennsylvania approximately $400 million per year in revenue. When I debated my opponent on this issue he argued that 1% was high enough and he was willing to settle for a quarter loaf.  I’m not willing to settle for less than what I believe is right and will fight for the full loaf.  We must make these special interests pay their fair share and we must protect our environment.”

Josh McNeil of Conservation Voters said “Representative Truitt put the interests of his constituents aside in order to follow the orders of Governor Corbett and the gas industry lobbyists.” Brady Russell of Clean Water Action said that his organization “urges its members to come out and vote for change in representation and support Bret Binder.”

Binder has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, and Conservation Voters. 

For Additional information, please contact:

Mike Leibowitz, Campaign Press Assistant

803 West Market Street

West Chester, PA 19382

610-696-5904

mleibowitz@bretbinderforpa.com

www.bretbinderforpa.com