Murphy: EPA Must Work With DEP

U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy says the federal Environmental Protection Agency should do a better job of communicating with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

At a Natural Gas Caucus hearing, DEP Secretary Michael Krancer said contact from the EPA has been limited to press releases, where the agency expresses its concerns about the enforcement of Marcellus Shale drilling regulations.

Murphy says the EPA has not responded to his communications in months and did not show up at the hearing.

“The EPA feels the need to continue to state that they’re going to do something, and yet we’re not sure what their concerns are,” says Murphy. “So, we did not hear from the EPA. I’m still waiting to hear, from my March question, what concerns they have about any of Pennsylvania’s regulations or enforcement thereof.”

The Republican lawmaker says the DEP is better suited to deal with drilling issues unique to Pennsylvania, and the EPA should bring any concerns straight to the state department.

Altmire, Murphy Promote Nuke Power

Cranberry-based Westinghouse thinks it has designed a game changer in the nuclear power industry and two local congressmen say they are doing what they can to help.

Tim Murphy (R- Upper St. Clair) and Jason Altmire (D- McCandless) have teamed up to introduce the Nuclear Power 2021 act. Altmire says it is based on the Nuclear Power 2010 program, which he says gave a kick-start to the nuclear power industry. “It provided for loan guarantees and financing and permitting that was not available before,” says Altmire.

Since that bill went into effect Westinghouse has signed contracts to build 14 nuclear power plants in the US. Four of those plants have broken ground in the preconstruction phase. Westinghouse spokesperson Vaughn Gilbert says the plants would be the first to be built in the U.S. since 1978. Gilbert also says those contracts have resulted in 5,000 jobs in the region.

The bill sponsored by Altmire and Murphy would use the same model but apply it to small modular nuclear reactors. “Hopefully by the year 2021 we can have at least two of these [small plants] up and running,” says Altmire.

The legislation does not mention Westinghouse by name but Altmire says the company is the worldwide leader in the technology so it stands to reason that Southwestern Pennsylvania would benefit from the promotion of the technology.

The small plants, according to Altmire, can be built at a tenth of the cost of a large plant and produce about a 6th of the power. He goes on to say the new Westinghouse product allays some of the fears associated with nuclear power. “There is less power being generated, there is less heat, it doesn’t need to be near water, so a lot of the things that would give people concern about the nuclear industry because of what happened in Japan are taken care of with the smaller design.” Because they need less water the power plants can by built in areas of the western United States where larger plants are not possible.

County Announces Bids Start on Commissary

A new commissary is planned to be built on Allegheny County owned property across from the McGarity Reserve Center in Moon Township. Commissaries are military supermarkets where current and past service members can find goods at a cheaper cost because their salaries tend to be less than private sector ones. The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County (RAAC) announced that staff will solicit bids for construction. The commissary is expected to be about 43,000 square-feet and cost up to $17 million.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato says this bodes well for the future of a military presenece in Southwest Pennsylvania. "Well the fact that we are one of the few on the BRAC report (The Defense BASE Closure and Realignment Commission)to get put back on shows the significance of the strategic importance of Southwest Pennsylvania, plus the men and women that serve in the military here."

Congressman Tim Murphy (R-18 PA) says that a new commissary is needed because the old one is an antique. "It is 50 something years old, it has many signs of wear and tear and it needs to be replaced in a more convenient location. In part because that base is going to close in the next couple of years and when it closes down we lose that base. A couple of years ago, I asked the Pentagon to please keep that commissary open at least until we build a new one, and they agreed to."

Murphy says that while the county is now announcing that it will take bids, they still have to get approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee. He says that once it passes, the county can legally start bids 30 days after.

The U.S. Army Office of Personnel and Readiness agreed to keep operating the current commissary in Oakdale until the new one can take on its duties. Currently, about 165,000 people rely on the commissary.

House Could Vote Today or Tomorrow on Compromise

On an 81-19 vote, the U.S. Senate this afternoon approved compromise legislation to extends the Bush tax cuts and federal jobless benefits. Now the measure goes to the House for consideration
Pittsburgh area Congressman Tim Murphy (R- PA18), says he's leaning towards voting "yes". He says that there is a lot in the bill that he doesn't agree with; like tax credits for motor sports arenas, Virgin Island Rum, and Ethanol. But he believes that the compromise is important to aid the economy.

Murphy says he doesn't like the position that voting on jobless benefits has put him and his colleagues in. He believes some unemployed are taking advantage of the benefits, which aren't much less than their paychecks. But Murphy added there are others who really need the money, and this legislation creates a Catch 22 for elected officials.

He also says that Democrats in the House who want to eliminate the estate tax exemption do not clearly understand small business owners. "They're holding onto their money and not making the investments (they should), because they're expecting to take a big hit. Again that's not a big hit on a tax when they die but that's a big hit on what they have to invest in over the next several years on those elements on insurance and other fees in anticipation of holding/staving off this tax that would otherwise destroy their business."

Murphy says that through his polling and what he's heard from his constituents, people understand that the bill is a compromise and want it to pass.

Murphy Retains U.S. House Seat

Incumbent Republican Congressman Tim Murphy (PA–18) defeated Democratic challenger Dan Connolly by a two-to-one margin in this midterm election. With almost 99% of precincts reporting, Murphy received nearly 67% of the vote and Connolly received less than 33%.

Preliminary polls had Murphy winning comfortably. Murphy’s campaign funds also dwarfed Connolly’s.

Murphy has served as the Congressman for parts of Washington, Allegheny, and Westmoreland Counties since 2003. He was previously a state senator.