PennFuture Blog

Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs

Looking Ahead to the Best and Worst of 2022’s Legislative Proposals

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Here is our roundup of the best - and the worst - of the bills expected to make their way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2022. Read more

Breaking Down the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will truly transform Pennsylvania. Read more

Regulatory Reforms Would Roll Back Environmental and Health Protections

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Pennsylvania’s legislators appear eager to overhaul how the Commonwealth reviews and implements state law. Read more

Electric Mobility Legislation Could Supercharge EV Infrastructure

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The Clean Transportation Infrastructure Act will require that the state’s electric utilities develop comprehensive strategies to expand accessibility and to improve affordability of vehicle charging infrastructure. Read more

Legislators Continue to Stand in the Way of Climate Action

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
SB 119 not only reflects a lack of desire among the Legislature to lead on climate progress. It reflects a failure to listen to voters across the state. Read more

2019-2020 Legislative Wrap-Up & 2021 Preview: Where Does the PA General Assembly Stand on Our Environment?

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
While advancing proactive, offensive, good environmental legislation remains a challenge in Harrisburg, PennFuture and partners killed, blocked, and bottled-up a host of anti-environmental and pro-fossil fuel bills and policies in the recent previous legislative session. Read more

PA General Assembly Wraps Up Annual Budget, Punts on Stimulus

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Last week, the Pennsylvania General Assembly hammered out the final pieces of this year’s state budget, which began in late May when the Legislature passed a five-month stopgap budget package. Read more

Pennsylvania’s House Environmental Committee Approves Bill Removing DEP’s Authority to Enact Carbon Reduction Program

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
PennFuture is adamantly opposed to HB 2025 and frustrated with the legislators who voted to advance the bill to the full House floor for consideration. Read more

Pennsylvania General Assembly Punts on State Budget, Passes Stopgap Measure with Level Funding for Environmental and Conservation Priorities

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed a five-month stopgap budget package to fund most of the state government through November 2020. Here is our analysis of what's in this short-term budget. Read more

Pennsylvania Legislators Send Deregulatory Bill to Wolf’s Desk

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
SB 327 seeks to undermine the regulatory authority of our agencies—environmental and other—that are tasked with safeguarding Pennsylvanians’ public health. Read more

PA House Leaders Push Bills to Thwart Environmental Protections, Attack Conservation Funding

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
Anti-environmental legislators in the Pennsylvania General Assembly are using the COVID-19 public health crisis as a cover to move bills to block any proposed or final environmental regulations and to attack dedicated environmental and conservation funds. Read more

The Dangers of Senate Bill 790

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
This bill aims to revive the conventional gas drilling industry, but at the expense of undoing years of regulations. Read more

Pennsylvania State Budget Turns Blind Eye to Environment

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
PennFuture's Director of Policy recaps the recently-passed state budget and how it impacts the environment. Read more

Final Farm Bill Signed into Law Marks Big Win for Conservation

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
PennFuture's Policy Director explains how the bill will impact people across the state. Read more

State Budget Headed in the Right Direction for Environment

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
For the first time in years, environmental agencies will not see budget cuts. Read more

A New Role as Policy Director

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
The latest blog from Ezra P. Thrush, who recently was named PennFuture's new Director of Policy. He previously served as the organization's Campaign Manager for Watershed Advocacy. Read more

2018 Work is Key to Reaching State's Clean Water Goals

by Ezra P. Thrush, Senior Director of Government Affairs
A look at PennFuture's current work in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Read more