Annual Meeting
The Pennsylvania chapter held its annual meeting November 10, at the Eagle Inn & Tavern, in Uwlchan. Ed Perry from the National Wildlife Federation spoke about global warming.
Chapter leaders discussed climate change with Congressman Jim Gerlach
On December 7, members of the Pennsylvania chapter of REP met with Congressman Jim Gerlach—a member of REP's Honorary Board— to discuss climate change issues.
Chapter President published op-ed
Sandy Moser published an op-ed, Parks, Land Conservation, Library Funds in Jeopardy, in the Daily Local News. She also published these letters to the editor:
Chapter Fights for Keystone Fund
Alert sent to PA REP Members on July 10, 2007: We've heard that the Keystone Fund / Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund issue is on the table right now. It's urgent that you reach out to Governor Ed Rendell and members of the General Assembly now to oppose the diversion and support new funding for the Hazardous Sites Fund.
Here's a related letter that the Pennsylvania chapter sent to Republican Senators and Representatives:
Dear Governor Rendell, Senators and Representatives:
The Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund is one of state governments most successful programs and it is an excellent new business catalyst as well. On behalf of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection, we urge you to keep the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund whole. PA-REP opposes PA Senate Bill 913 and any other proposals that will reduce the amount of funding available for crucial recreation, conservation, and other projects supported by the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.
Look at any chamber of commerce web site and you'll see pretty pictures of people in parks, families enjoying the outdoors, meadows and perhaps a farm with contented horses or cows. Why? Because they know new businesses are looking for communities with outdoor features that will be appealing to their employees. The Governor and members of the General Assembly say that they want new business and industry to settle in Pennsylvania and have set aside billions of dollars in NewPA, the state program to bring in new businesses. And yet by the end of this week, funding for a program equally important to attracting new business may be drastically cut.
There are other options for funding HSCA including increasing the waste tipping fee or funding HSCA out of the General Fund for one year while study of a permanent solution is explored. Other options are Representative Chris Ross' amendment to HB 1206 would direct one-quarter mill of the capital stock- franchise tax to the HSCF. This would be appropriate since the capital stock-franchise tax was an original revenue source for the HSCF. Upon expiration of the capital stock-franchise tax, 2.15 percent of the corporate net income tax would be directed to the HSCF. Senator John Rafferty plans to introduce legislation to establish a returnable beverage container deposit program (a "bottle bill"). All unclaimed deposit money would be dedicated to funding HSCA. We urge the Republican members of the Senate and House to ask their respective leaders to keep the Keystone Fund off the budget negotiation table.
Sincerely, Sandy Moser, President, Pennsylvania Republicans for Environmental Protection
"These grants give municipalities the funding needed to leverage local dollars in order to make dreams come true. Hearing a child squeal with delight while growing through play, or seeing a person with disabilities enjoy the outdoors, is evidence of money well spent." Former Republican Gov. Mark Schweiker
Over the years, the chapter has taken strong positions on Land Use, Sprawl & Economic Development, oil dependence and opposition to the repeal of Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles and motor vehicle emissions inspection laws and to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
REP President Spoke in Bucks County
The evening of March 8, 2007, national President Martha Marks gave a speech entitled "Bully for Courage" to the Bucks County Sierra Club in Doylestown
2006
The Chapter held a forum on sprawl on October 28.
REP members at the sprawl forum: Dr. Ralph Heister,
Anna Guglielmo, Becky Corbin, Rebecca Hamilton, Paula Coyne,
Wilbur Hamilton, Chapter President Sandy Moser, Mike McKinne,
Linda McKinne, Roberta Turner, and Linda Morrison.
Chapter Held Annual Meeting October 28, 2006
The Pennsylvania chapter held its annual meeting at the Inn at Chester Springs in Lionville.
Chapter Tabled at Fitzpatrick Energy Fair
On August 4, 2006, Pennsylvania Chapter President Sandy Moser and fellow REP member Roberta Turner tabled for REP at a renewable energy fair sponsored by Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA). The congressman was pleased by REP's attendance, and stopped by the table, which included REP's publications and displayed educational materials about the benefits of cleaner energy technologies.
Above left:
Chapter President Sandy Moser, with Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick at 2006 energy fair.
Above right: Sandy attended Congressman Jim Gerlach's November 7, 2006 victory party
Pennsylvania REP is proud that Representative Fitzpatrick scored a perfect 100% on national REP's 2005 Congressional Scorecard. Click here to download that publication.
Chapter President Sandy Moser published these letters to the editor:
2005
Chapter Annual Meeting Included Presentation on Sprawl
At its annual meeting on November 12, 2005, the Pennsylvania chapter hosted a forum on state subsidies that encourage urban sprawl. About 30 REP members heard a presentation from the Keystone Center on sprawl-inducing impacts of state economic development grants.
Chapter VP Spoke to Association of Environmental Professionals
Pennsylvania Chapter Vice President Doug Ayers spoke to the Pennsylania Association of Environmental Professionals annual conference on May 13, 2005 in Scranton.
Chapter members published several op-eds and letters to the editor
Chapter President Sandy Moser published two op-eds in the Daily Local News:
Jim Stuhltrager, a Pennsylvania REP member who is also the vice president of national REP's board of directors, published an op-ed, Weldon can take lead role in restoring ocean health, in the Delaware County Daily Times.
Chapter President Sandy Moser and PA REP Policy Coordinator Linda Morrison published an op-ed, "Select Philadelphia? They wont.", in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
National President Martha Marks gave the dinner keynote speech, "Land Conservation is Conservative, Patriotic and Spiritual", at the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association conference in Lancaster, April 8, 2005.
REP member Paula Coyne published a letter to the editor, Arctic drilling isn't answer to fuel crisis, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
2004
Chapter Hosted REP's National Conference
Pennsylvania Chapter was proud to host Republicans for Environmental Protection and ConservAmerica's 2004 Joint Annual Meeting and Conference, October 1-3, 2004, at the Radisson Plaza—Warwick Hotel at Rittenhouse Square.
Among other speeches, REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso gave a talk entitled "EPA's role in addressing global warming."
The photo above shows most of those who attended the event. Photo by Martha Marks.
Above right: National President Martha Marks bestows REP's "Green Elephant Award for Citizen Achievement" on
Philadelphia REP member Ernesta Ballard.
Clean Air Advocacy Workshop in Philadelphia a great success
In cooperation with Republicans for Environmental Protection, ConservAmerica sponsored citizen advocacy workshops on the impacts of coal-fired power plants on air quality. One of the workshops was held in Philadelphia in August 2004.
Chapter President Sandy Moser published an op-ed, GOP must think greener, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
2003
Pennsylvania REP Chapter launched!
November 9, 2003, was an exciting day as Republicans for Environmental Protection launched its eighth chapter in Pennsylvania. National President Martha Marks flew in for the occasion and was joined by REP members from around the state. The photo below was taken that day.
Chapter President Sandy Moser published an op-ed, Secret subsidies that create sprawl, in the Daily Local News.
2002
National REP leaders published two op-eds in our state
National President Martha Marks published an op-ed, Energy legislation deplorable, in the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader.
REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso published an op-ed, On Earth Day, sorting the numbers, in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
2001
REP members began spreading our message in Pennsylvania.
Jim Scarantino published two op-eds in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
REP members with Congressman Jim Gerlach: