Sustainable Pennsylvania Election 2016
Laws and policies that promote sustainability would help grow our economy, create jobs, improve quality of life in our communities, make us healthier, reduce risks to our national security, and improve the lives of the poorest among us. Widener Law Commonwealth's Environmental Law and Sustainability Center provides this information on the candidates’ sustainability positions in the spirit of public service, to help voters make informed decisions.
| Issues | Katie McGinty (D) | Pat Toomey (R) |
| Green Jobs & Green Business | “We need to harness the creative energy of our research institutions and reinvest in a skilled manufacturing workforce. By investing in basic R&D, skilled job training, and nurturing start-up tech businesses, we can reclaim our competitive edge in manufacturing and development. Finally, I have spent most of my career demonstrating that a healthy environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. In the Senate, I will be a leading voice for strengthening our clean energy economy by investing in renewable energy and innovative infrastructure technology, while cutting carbon emissions and lowering energy costs.” Source |
Has no direct position on “green jobs” but is a proponent of “unlocking nation’s natural resources” Does not believe in government subsidies for particular special energy groups. Source Believes there is a “war on coal” waged by the current White House administration |
| Investment in Environmental Infrastructure | “As the former Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, I understand the importance of protecting our environment and investing in a clean energy economy.” Source “I believe that efficient, modern and safe infrastructure is key to building a strong vibrant economy and connecting communities all across this country. Our commitment to our infrastructure cannot be fleeting and is a top priority for me.” Source |
“Senator Toomey believes that a clean environment is important and supports common sense pollution controls designed to protect public health and our natural resources. He believes that state agencies have the knowledge, experience, and accountability to properly safeguard these important assets” Source “As a state with a storied industrial heritage and aging infrastructure, Pennsylvania needs continued investment in roads, bridges, railroads, and waterways to keep its economy growing. Senator Toomey believes the federal government can play an important role in supporting our infrastructure priorities, and he has been proud to promote fiscally responsible legislation to fund infrastructure maintenance and expansion” Source |
| Clean Energy | “It is time to start moving towards a clean energy economy. We need to harness our renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar, to create good jobs and cut electricity bills for taxpayers. In Washington, I will support innovations in clean energy technologies and tax incentives that will level the playing field to move our country towards a clean energy future.” Source |
“Senator Toomey believes we should take action to make America less dependent on oil from unfriendly nations. As such, he supports allowing more oil exploration in Alaska, the Outer Continental Shelf, and the vast oil shale reserves in America's western states. Senator Toomey is a supporter of the Keystone Pipeline, and helped to pass bipartisan legislation out of the Senate to approve the pipeline in 2015. Senator Toomey also recognizes the unique potential of the Marcellus Shale - one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world - to increase job creation, boost economic growth and provide more affordable energy for Pennsylvanians.” “Opposes wasteful government handouts for special energy interest and believes all energy should compete on a level playing field” Source |
| Sustainable Communities | “I believe that efficient, modern and safe infrastructure is key to building a strong vibrant economy and connecting communities all across this country. Our commitment to our infrastructure cannot be fleeting and is a top priority for me” Source |
No position |
| Sustainable Agriculture | “We can put people to work on sustainable infrastructure & clean energy projects, sustainable agriculture & open space preservation.” Source |
Critical of regulations on farmers “Unfortunately, federal agencies are still trying to enact new regulations that will harm farmers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently devised two new massive frameworks to regulate rainwater on farmland. These regulations preempt Pennsylvania state law, threaten the viability of our farmers, and will have little if any impact on our environment.” Source |
| Climate Change | “Climate change presents a serious global threat to our health, economic well-being and national security. In the Senate, I will lead the way to a healthier and safer environment by working to pass commonsense climate protections with investments in energy efficiency and clean energy.” Source |
“the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been especially aggressive in pursuing regulations that specifically target coal power plants. These regulations have already put hundreds of Pennsylvanians out of work and will continue to cause economic distress while yielding negligible benefits for our environment. Senator Toomey strongly opposes these unreasonable regulations and he will continue to fight for commonsense polices that allow Pennsylvanians to thrive in today's economy.” Source |
| Sustainable Transportation | “Too many of our roads, bridges, waterways and transit systems are aging and in urgent need of repair…If we commit to investing in strong, sustainable 21st-century infrastructure, we can put Pennsylvanians to work while enabling our businesses to operate more efficiently and minimizing the risk of disasters like the two tragic Amtrak accidents Pennsylvania has seen in the past year.” Source |
Proposes to increase 100 billion in additional federal transportation spending Source |
| Marcellus Shale Fee or Tax | “Katie McGinty…views the Marcellus Shale as an important economic driver, while pressing for a severance tax on gas production. ‘I don’t support a moratorium… I think the responsible production and use of the Marcellus Shale gas is actually part of the secret sauce as to how we will create jobs and how we will compete and win.’” Source |
Strong opponent to taxation generally, and especially on natural resources Source |
| Environmental Protection | “She’s been a senior advisor to Al Gore on environmental issues—both in the Senate and as a presidential candidate. Under President Bill Clinton, Katie served as Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. When Ed Rendell became Governor of Pennsylvania, Katie was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.” Source |
Believes in “common sense pollution controls” Supports further exploration of oil/gas drilling in Alaska Critical of EPA and current administration’s attitude and approach to regulating coal, proposes that they are too harsh on the industry Source |
| Parks & Forests | “Our state forests and state parks are precious resources for the people of Pennsylvania to enjoy and we should never allow industrial activities to potentially spoil the pristine land that we own.” Source |
Supports efforts to protect national forests like the Allegheny National Forests, but also wants to ensure that national forests are adequately managed before they acquire more property Source |
| Land Use | “In terms of land, we have made a great push to revitalize brownfield properties as a way of cleaning up the pollution that is on those properties but also as a critical part of our strategy to encourage smart growth and to hold on to the rural character of Pennsylvania. I am pleased to say that we now have one of the most expansive brownfield programs in the country as well as the largest farmland-preservation program in the country.” Source |
Opponent of EPA regulations on agriculture and farming Source Strong proponent on domestic gas and oil drilling Source |
The Center does not endorse any particular candidates, and no endorsement should be implied. In addition, the Center does not endorse or affirm the accuracy of any statements made by any candidate about matters of fact. Research and writing for the candidates’ positions was done by Bo Bucher, Matthew Konya, Daniel Schramm, and Mark Bogush, students at Widener Law Commonwealth.