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Auditor General’s goal is to keep at-risk children safe

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Their view: NFL players should respect nation that has blessed them

<p>Here we are in September with the Pennsylvania budget still unfinished.</p><p>While I am not surprised by this lack of progress, I am concerned that some of our elected officials have been willing to include devastating anti-environmental legislation in budget bills to date.</p><p>Specifically, the state Senate proposed a number of bills that put our air and water at risk. Provisions included in the Senate&#8217;s revenue plan &#8211; provisions, it should be noted, that have nothing to do with raising revenue &#8211; would compromise clean air and water standards by outsourcing the approval of air quality permits to hand-picked political appointees and place the natural gas industry&#8217;s permitting process with individuals selected by the industry and outside of the Department of Environmental Protection.</p><p>Why would we ever take clean air and clean water standards out of the hands of the professionals who serve Pennsylvania citizens?</p><p>With the Senate back on tap to act now that the House has taken its crack at a budget plan, we must ensure these anti-environmental riders are kept out of a final budget package.</p><p>Our legislature is supposed to work for the people, not for big industry and their polluting kin. Pennsylvania&#8217;s elected officials including Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. John Yudichak should oppose any state budget that strips away important protections from pollution that could harm their constituents.</p><p><strong>Scott Cannon </strong></p><p>Plymouth</p><style>
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Your view: Environment must be protected