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GUEST COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Bill
Thomas |
State Rep. Greg
Vitali D-Delaware |
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Thursday, May 3, 2007
The PA Senate should reconfirm DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty
By state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware
Kathleen McGinty, as Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection secretary, has distinguished herself has a leader in energy policy and an outstanding steward of our environment. Now her reconfirmation is being threatened by partisan and racial politics. The citizens of Pennsylvania should urge their state senators to vote for reconfirmation now.
A Philadelphia native and graduate of St. Joseph’s University, McGinty rose to chair the White House Council on Environmental Policy in the Clinton administration before becoming the first woman to head the Pennsylvania DEP in 2003.
As DEP secretary, McGinty successfully led the charge for the passage of important environmental legislation and regulations such as Growing Greener, Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, mercury regulations and the Clean Vehicles Program. In these battles she has incurred the wrath of powerful Senate Republicans, such as Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chairman Mary Jo White, a conservative from northwestern Pennsylvania.
Recently she also has incurred the wrath of some African-American Democratic senators for her criticism of Public Utilities Commission Chairman Wendell Holland, an African-American. Her criticism of Holland was justified. His votes against a sustainable benefits fee, which would fund renewable energy projects and his public criticism of the administration’s mercury regulations, run counter to good environmental policy.
Most recently McGinty has been accused of running afoul of the state ethics laws because the DEP awarded grants to an organization which hired her husband as a consultant. These charges are without merit and are being promoted by those who oppose her on political grounds. During the Rendell administration the DEP has awarded $2.66 million to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, while her husband, a highly respected Berkley Ph.D., received a mere $3,747 in consulting fees from PEC.
It is disingenuous to suggest that PEC received DEP grants because of McGinty’s husband’s small role there as a consultant. In fact, the Rendell administration has awarded substantially less to PEC than did the previous administration and had rejected some $4.9 million in funding requests from PEC.
What was expected to be a fairly easy confirmation of McGinty now appears to be in jeopardy. Confirmation requires a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Pennsylvania Senate. The nomination was originally scheduled for a vote on April 25, but was canceled due to this controversy. Another vote is expected by May 8.
Katie McGinty has been the architect of one of the most progressive state energy policies in the nation. She also is poised to guide Pennsylvania on a cutting-edge climate change initiative. The loss of Katie McGinty would be a devastating blow to environmental progress in Pennsylvania.
People concerned with Pennsylvania’s environment need to let their state senators know how they feel. The state Senate needs to put politics aside and confirm Katie McGinty immediately.
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