Rep. Gabler Spring 2009 Newsletter

8/14/2019 Rep. Gabler Spring 2009 Newsletter

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PRSRT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

HARRISBURG, PA

PERMIT NO. 529

Dear Friends: It has been an interesting, fast-paced first few monthsin office as your representative at the State Capitol. I haveenjoyed getting to know those of you who have contacted

me, whether it was by e-mail, phone or visit to one of mydistrict offices.I wanted to take some time to update you on some of

the issues we have been working on and the places wehave been in our efforts to reach out to the people of the75th Legislative District.

For those of you who have stopped by our offices inSt. Marys and DuBois, I hope you have found my staff tobe helpful. We are here to answer your questions andpledge to do our best to help you with your legislativeneeds.

I want to thank those of you who were involved in

our very successful May 4 tele-town hall meeting. Thatnight, a telephone call went out throughout the district,inviting constituents to stay on the line and take part in adiscussion of issues that are important to them. We areconsidering doing another such event. If you did not get acall that night and would like to be included the next time,please contact one of my district offices and give us yourcontact information.

Thank you for sending me to Harrisburg to serve asyour voice in the General Assembly. It is a privilege andhonor that I do not take lightly.

Sincerely,Matt Gabler,State Representative75th Legislative District

Spring 2009


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The Battle to Keep Interstate 80 Toll-Free

On April 22, I introduced an amendment on the House Floor that would have removed the authorization to toll Interstate 80. I believefighting this battle is of the utmost importance to my constituents and the future economic prosperity of our area.

As many of you know, the General Assembly and Governor Ed Rendell approved Act 44 in July of 2007, authorizing the PennsylvaniaTurnpike Commission to toll Interstate 80. Fortunately, when the Turnpike Commission requested permission from the Federal Governmentto implement tolls last year, the Federal Highway Administration rejected the application. It is very possible, however, that the next applicationcould be approved by the new administration in Washington, DC.

Last year, as I knocked on doors and met citizens on their doorsteps, I saw firsthand that the overwhelming majority in this area believes

tolling I-80 would do serious harm to our region. This issue goes far beyond the inconvenience and expense incurred by drivers travellingthe interstate. Nearly everything bought or sold in this area must travel by truck along Interstate 80. If we allow transportation costs toincrease due to tolls, I believe we will see an unacceptable increase in the cost of the products that we all need to buy. Additionally, I believetolls would make it more expensive for industry to sell the products made locally, costing us valuable jobs.

I know that the threat of tolling remains a vital issue to our area today. Supporters from other areas of the state are hoping that ourlocal opposition to tolling will fade as the issue becomes a distant memory. I have pledged to ensure that does not happen on my watch.

I keep the tolling issue in the forefront of discussions and I have been updating local groups on its status at every chance. On April22, I found my first opportunity to offer an amendment to a transportation bill in an effort to remove the threat of tolls for our area. I believenot only that tolls would do us harm if implemented, but also that the mere threat of tolls is doing damage to our local economy every day.This has been confirmed by public hearings that have been held all along the I-80 corridor. Employers and citizens have testified to thefact that tolls would undoubtedly have negative effects.

Attracting employers to create good paying jobs in our area is a constant struggle. In order to do so, we must make our communities

at tractive so employers will believe they will have a successful future here. The threat of higher transportation costs is a huge red flag andmakes employers think twice before locating or expanding locally.

Interstate 80 tolling supporters blocked a vote on my amendment through a parliamentary tactic which ruled it out of order by a vote of106-87. The setback is disappointing, but I believe merely bringing continued attention to this issue is an early victory for those of us whodepend on a toll-free I-80. I look forward to continuing this fight as long as it is necessary to save the economic future of our region.

Fighting for a Recreationally and Economically

Accessible Allegheny National ForestState Reps. Kathy Rapp (R-Forest/McKean/Warren), Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) and I spoke out in early April against

attempts to further restrict recreational and economic access in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). The effort is being spearheaded bythe environmental group Friends of the Allegheny Wilderness (FAW). While I support responsible environmental stewardship, I believemany recent developments have the potential to do serious unnecessary harm to our local economy.

The three of us have sent a letter to our colleagues in the United States Congress, as well as to the United States Department ofAgriculture and the Forest Service, opposing efforts to restrict access to more than 54,000 acres of forest by designating it as wildernessarea. As a result of the 1964 Wilderness Act, only the U.S. Congress can expand wilderness area. In these difficult economic times, anyendeavor that is a detriment to jobs and the financial well-being of our region must be stopped. I am very aware that many family-sustainingjobs in Elk County and surrounding areas are dependent on activities in the ANF.

In addition to concerns about the economic impact of an expanded wilderness area, we are also concerned about ongoing efforts by the

United States Forest Service to scale back development of mineral, oil and gas drilling rights on private property in the ANF. RepresentativesRapp, Causer and I sent a letter to Attorney General Tom Corbett stating our concerns about this infringement on private property rights.The forest is, and has been for years, a major source of income for many employers. A large number of these companies are small,

family-owned businesses. The House Republican Policy Committee recently held a hearing in Warren at our request. We heard frompeople whose livlihood depends on the ANF. Restricting access to the forest, especially at this time, would harm these job-creating smallbusinesses that are undoubtedly the backbone of our local economy. We should be doing all that we can to support local operations tokeep our citizens gainfully employed.

With regard to environmental concerns, the hearing in Warren also exemplified what we have said all along -- the people who work theforest have an interest in being responsible stewards. With proper management, the forest will remain healthy, beautiful and economicallyviable for generations to come.

We have been fortunate to have an ally at the Federal level in Congressman Glenn GT Thompson, who testified at our hearing andhas quickly become a champion for us on this issue. We also know that Federal law is on our side in these efforts. The Weeks Act of 1911

was specifically enacted to keep the federal government from blatantly trespassing on both the private property and day-to-day activitiesof private entrepreneurs where it has no authority to do so.

In addition to throwing up yet another unnecessary obstacle on Pennsylvanias road to foreign energy independence, current law is crystalclear when it comes to restricting access or the amount of oil, natural gas and other resources that can be produced by non-governmentemployers operating in the Allegheny National Forest. The Weeks Act clearly prohibits any such interference, and any unwarranted decisiontaken by any level of government to adopt the FAW plan would set the stage for outrageously expensive litigation. Such a decision holdsthe potential to seriously jeopardize future economic growth and job creation in the rural communities that comprise the Allegheny NationalForest and surrounding areas.

The Allegheny National Forest always has been, and always should be, a multi-use forest. It has a history of responsible resourcedevelopment, and our efforts are simply a continuation of this policy in an attempt to maintain the ANFs status as a vital asset to theprosperity of northwest Pennsylvania.


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Committee Assignments in Harrisburg

Much legislative work happens in committees before issues are considered on the floor of the House of Representatives.My duties in Harrisburg include serving on three standing committees:

Environmental Resources and Energy - Responsible for legislative oversight for over 45 different environmental laws inplace in the Commonwealth, administered by both the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department ofConservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The issues handled in this committee are among the most vital to the economy

of our area. I believe having a voice on this committee will be a tremendous asset to the citizens of our district.

Intergovernmental Affairs - Deals with legislativeand constituent issues involving the state governmentsinteraction with other levels of government, such asfederal or local governments. The recent AmericanReinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), knownas the Federal Stimulus Act, has been extensivelydiscussed in this committee.

State Government - Reviews legislation andhandles constituent inquiries relating to laws and/orsubject areas such as the Election Code and thePennsylvania Voter Registration Act, and proposedamendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

I have also been very active as a member of thePolicy Committee, which allows for more extensivepublic involvement on a wide variety of many of themost important issues.

New Web Site Offers Information Source for Home Improvement

Contractors and Customers

All contractors doing more than $5,000 of home improvement work annually must be registered with the state as of July 1. In aneffort to provide residents with better information when choosing a contractor, details of contactors registrations in a statewide databasewill be placed on contracts, promotional materials and business cards.

This database will serve a two-fold purpose. It will allow home improvement contractors to register and promote their serviceswhile offering consumers a way to separate reputable contractors from those who are simply out to deceive the public.

More information on the registration program and the statewide database is expected to be available in the near future as the attorneygenerals office continues with the programs implementation. To register as a contractor, file a complaint with the attorney generalsoffice or find more information on consumer protection, visit my Web site, RepGabler.com, and click on Home ImprovementContractor Registration.

Standing Up for States Rights

I am a co-sponsor of House Resolution 95, which reasserts the sovereignty of our state under the 10th Amendment to the UnitedStates Constitution. The 10th Amendment says all rights not specifically delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution arereserved to the states. Our country was founded on the belief that the Federal government would serve as an agent of the states, not theother way around.

Politicians in Washington, D.C. have been exerting undue influence on the states and placing unreasonable financial burdens ontaxpayers. An example of this is the recent so-called Stimulus Bill, which provides short-term Federal funds while placing significantlong-term financial burdens on the taxpayers of our state. This resolution serves to remind Federal officials of their constitutionallimitations while re-affirming Pennsylvanias 10th Amendment rights.

RepGabler com


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When not in Harrisburg, my biggest responsibility is keeping in touch with the people in my district. It has been a pleasure touching

base with constituents and finding what issues are important to them.

Winter meeting of the Northwest Chapter of the

Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmens Clubs.

Members of the St. Marys

Area Airport Authority.Domtar Paper Company, Johnsonburg mill

Elk Regional Health Center

Official dedication of the Wilcox

Public Library.

Presenting a plaque to DuBois AreaHigh School junior Molly Stoltz, who is

state champion of the Poetry Out Loud

competition.

Members of the Clearfield County

Farm Bureau

Officials from Dickinson Mental Health

Center in Ridgway.

Around the 75th Legislative District

State Representative Matt Gabler75th Legislative District

Harrisburg Office:150-B East WingPO Box 202075

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2075(717) 260-6142

FAX: (717) 260-6572

1-866-901-2916

District Offices:DuBois Area Plaza, Suite 101221 East DuBois Avenue

DuBois, PA 15801(814) 375-4688

FAX: (814) 375-5955

53 South Saint Marys StreetSuite 2

Saint Marys, PA 15857(814) 781-6301

FAX: (814) 781-7213

www.RepGabler.com

Documents

Rep. Gabler Spring 2009 Newsletter