Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

After a series of public meetings around the state, a citizens group formed by several environmental groups and other organizations has released its report on the Marcellus Shale industry. While there’s a lot of discussion about an impact fee or severance tax, the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission also feels enforcement and regulatory reform are paramount. Dan Surra, who co-chaired the panel, says the overriding feeling the commission received is that people feel their politicians and regulatory agencies that are supposed to be protecting them aren’t. Read more of Cathy Clark's story here .

Wellsboro – Communities in the heart of the booming Marcellus Shale drilling region are struggling to protect the environment and groundwater supplies while facing growing social service needs, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today when he visited Tioga County. “The Marcellus Shale gas industry is just getting started in Pennsylvania, so we have the opportunity now to ensure that adequate resources are available for local and state government to meeting growing demand for services and protect the environment,” the Governor said. “To accomplish these goals, the gas companies profiting from this rapidly growing industry should be willing to pay a fair share levy. “I share the view of the eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians who, in a recent poll, said that they favor a tax on gas companies to fund programs that will protect our environment and help local governments handled increased demand on their services,” Governor Rendell said. Pennsylvania is the only major energy-producing state that do...

Topics we discussed are: ~~ possible furloughs of state workers ~~ local grant money ~~ Dan Surra/Pennsylvania Wilds ~~ Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati ~~ Super Bowl score prediction Listen HERE .

He defended Surra as qualified and told reporters peppering him with questions to "get off your butts and go up to the Pennsylvania Wilds and ask the people up there" about Surra. For the full story, go to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . OK "people up there (here)" ... What do we think about this? Please comment! To read a couple of letters to the editor of the DuBois Courier-Express, go HERE

Some GOP lawmakers are questioning the hiring of former state representative Dan Surra for a newly created $95,000 a year job after Governor Rendell imposed a hiring freeze. Surra, who was on the House Democratic leadership team before he was defeated by Matt Gabler in the general election, started work on Monday as an adviser to the Pennsylvania Wilds. Six Republican House members have written to Rendell saying his double standard and favoritism toward friends is out of touch with the realities facing most Pennsylvanians. ~~ Here's the letter: Dear Governor Rendell, You implemented a statewide pay and hiring freeze to combat a mounting state budget deficit. This policy is adversely affecting many of our constituents, yet we understood and supported your various efforts to decrease state spending. Bluntly, we are troubled by the recent news that you have hired former House Democrat leader Dan Surra to fill an apparently specially-created, $95,000-plus-per-year job with the Departme...

Republican Glenn Thompson has defeated Democrat Mark McCracken in the 5th District Congressional race. Thompson tells WESB and The HERO he's ready to take over for Congressman John Peterson. Thompson got 57 percent of the vote district-wide. In McKean County, he got 60 percent of the vote. It was 51 percent in Warren County; 58 percent in Cameron County; and 70 percent in Potter County. Thompson's Democratic challenger Mark McCracken carried Elk County with 49 and half percent of the vote. In the race for the 25th District State Senate seat, incumbent Joe Scarnati crushed his opponent Democrat Donald Hilliard by taking in 66 percent of the vote district-wide. Scarnati tells WESB and The HERO he's looking forward to returning to Harrisburg, and he's grateful to his constituents for having confidence in him. In McKean County, Scarnati got 69 percent of the vote. It was 57 percent in Warren County, 68 percent in Cameron County, and 76 percent in Potter County. Republican M...

Republican Matt Gabler has defeated longtime incumbent state representative Dan Surra for the 75th District House seat. Gabler got 53 percent of the vote; Surra 47.

As CNN told us, Pennsylvania and New York have gone to Barack Obama. As for other races in Pennsylvania, with 18 percent of the vote counted in the 5th Congressional District, Republican Glenn Thompson leads Democrat Mark McCracken by about 500 votes. 33 out of 42 Districts (78.57%) Reporting from McKean County, Thompson leads McCracken by 68 % to 30 % In the race for the 25th District State Senate seat, incumbent Joe Scarnati leads challenger Donald Hilliard by a margin of about 3 to 1. The percentage is higher in McKean County with 74 percent for Scarnati and 26 for Hilliard. Besides the closeness of the congressional seat, the other big surprise in the region is that the race between incumbent state representative Dan Surra of Elk County and his challenger Matt Gabler is neck-and-neck. It's 51 percent for Gabler and 49 percent for Surra in Elk County in Surra's home county. Clearfield County results are just starting to come in. In New York State, with 23 percent of the prec...

Governor Ed Rendell is expected to sign legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, that would allow the state to raise funds for the improvement of elk habitats by holding an annual auction for an elk hunting license in Pennsylvania. "The demand for elk hunting licenses far outstrips the 40 elk licenses that are currently made available each year," Surra said. "Holding an auction to offer an additional license could raise a significant amount of funding for the Game Commission's efforts to maintain and improve the elk range." Surra said the auction would be held by an organization independent of the Game Commission, such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The organization could keep a portion of the proceeds for running the auction, but at least 80 percent of the proceeds would be directed toward improving the elk range. The auction would be open to both residents and non-residents of Pennsylvania. The legislation authorizes the aucti...

Energy legislation that was sent to the governor today to be signed into law includes provisions advocated by state Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, that will help to preserve hundreds of local jobs at Domtar Corp.'s Johnsonburg paper mill. The comprehensive energy bill (H.B. 2200) includes language that would boost the market for an alternative energy source generated by the Johnsonburg mill's paper-making process. Similar provisions are also included in another bill (Special Session S.B. 25) that was passed by the House today. "Paper mills that want to stay in business have to remain competitive," Surra said. "This legislation will help preserve jobs at Pennsylvania's two paper mills – including the 400 jobs at the mill in Johnsonburg -- by ensuring that the byproduct of the paper-making process, which paper plants have been using as a power source for years, is a significant part of Pennsylvania's overall alternative energy strategy." Surra sai...

A bill that limits mandatory overtime for nurses has been unanimously approved by the state senate. The bill, introduced by Representative Dan Surra of Elk County, prohibits a health care facility from requiring nurses and other health care employees "to work in excess of agreed to, predetermined and regularly scheduled daily work shifts.'' After completing a 12-hour shift, health care employees can still voluntarily work overtime shifts but they can't be fired for refusing overtime. There are still three exceptions when overtime can be required: An unforeseeable, declared national, state or municipal emergency; a highly unpredictable and extraordinary event, such as the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; or when a health care facility has a large number of unforeseen absences by workers or last-minute calloffs.

The Village of Wilcox celebrated its sesquicentennial over the weekend. State Representative Dan Surra was on hand for the festivities and said despite changes throughout the years, Wilcox is still a strong, beautiful and friendly community. State Senator Joe Scarnati presented a citation recognizing the village's 150th birthday, and said he always looks forward to coming back to Brockway, Johnsonburg, Wilcox, Bradford and Ridgway because this is home. He added that, "This is where real Americans live."