State Health Dept. not tracking drilling illness claims

[Divernan]

Health Department not tracking drilling illness claims
Saturday, June 11, 2011
By Michael Rubinkam, The Associated Press

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Friday that it does not formally keep track of citizens' health complaints about gas drilling and has not, as a result, linked drilling to any health consequences.

"We have not made a conclusive link between an individual's health and natural gas drilling," agency spokeswoman Brandi Hunter-Davenport said in response to an Associated Press inquiry. "The Department will continue to monitor any citizen complaints which come to our attention."

The AP asked the health department for data on the number of drilling-related complaints it has received from citizens -- and whether the agency has ever made a finding that drilling impacted human health -- in the wake of claims by a northern Pennsylvania hairdresser who says that a gas well near her home made her sick.

Though gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has boomed since 2009, with more than 3,200 wells drilled to date, Hunter-Davenport was unable to say this week how many health complaints the agency has received and investigated.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11162/1153131-100.stm#ixzz1P0DUyYsQ

[Divernan]

1. Health Dept. spokesperson, "Brandi" gives a prime BS answer.

"Currently, we do not have a centralized database but are working with the Marcellus Shale (Advisory) Commission and anticipate that in moving forward we will be more systematically engaged in addressing the health aspects," she said via email Friday.

Gov. Tom Corbett appointed the Marcellus commission to study the economic, environmental and public health impacts of natural gas drilling and to issue a set of recommendations.

A commission panel heard testimony last month from Health Secretary Eli Avila, who acknowledged the department lacked a systematic approach to investigating health concerns arising from gas drilling. Avila is scheduled to appear before the full commission next week."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11162/1153131-100.stm#ixzz1P0DUyYsQ

Note that while the Marcellus Shale Commission is to study the public health impacts of drilling, there is not a single, solitary public health official/physician/medical specialist on said Commission.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. It will make the drillers happy if there never is a tracking system.

They love to have the ability to say "there are no CONFIRMED cases of" illness or water contamination or wells tainted. If we actually start to document and investigate these things, that will take their biggest excuse away from them. And we all know that Corbett did not win his election by promising the drillers we would watch them.

It never ceases to amaze me how low these out-of-state drillers will go. Of course, this is not their backyard.

[blue neen]

3. Of course...not surprising at all considering the Corbett Corporate agenda.

BTW, where has Governor Gashole been these days? Did he go into hiding?

[Divernan]

4. Evidently he's now Obama's favorite governor - gets choice invite to DC

This report really disgusted me. Obama surprised the drilling industry by reaching out to it last December, and now he gives Corbett national exposure/credibility by making Corbett the ONLY governor invited to Merkel's state dinner.
What's Obama doing boosting Corbett's PR? Keep this up, Barrack, and Corbett can coast to a second term as governor.

http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/early-returns-20/53-post-gazette-staff/2870-ich-bin-ein-corbett

Ich bin ein Corbett
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 17:55
Written by Daniel Malloy
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corbettpointAA

Gov. Tom Corbett is scheduled to be at the White House tonight for the state dinner honoring German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Aside from proving he's got more juice than Arlen Specter -- only a lunch invite -- Corbett's state dinner appearance (sans wife) shows both President Obama's recently growing emphasis on bipartisan fraternizing and the fact that Corbett is getting noticed in the nation's capital.

Cabinet members, members of Congress -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell should have plenty to talk about -- big donors and other dignitaries, many of whom have ties to the visiting nation, make state dinner invite lists. The Obamas also invited several high-powered journalists (Your D.C. Bureau's invite must have been lost in the mail) like ABC World News Tonight anchor Diane Sawyer and liberal Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne. Corbett is the only governor, though former New Jersey Gov. John Corzine is scheduled to appear as well.

Corbett is a frequent visitor to D.C., having been here last month for a speech on school choice, a topic on which he's drawing national attention. Earlier today in Harrisburg he was scheduled to meet with former D.C. Schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, who's barnstorming the nation on education reform. He also met with Republican strategist Charlie Gerow, reports ace Harrisburg correspondent Laura Olson, but did not have time to hang with Marcellus Shale protesters because of his packed schedule.

[Divernan]

5. Corbett considers himself "honored" by Obama's invite

This was the first state dinner honoring a foreign leader since Obama took office. Corbett's spokesperson acknowledged Corbett had no particular connection to Germany. So why did Obama choose to honor a damned GOP Governor & not include a single Democratic governor. In terms of business connections with Germany (which is also the most powerful member of the EU), this was a valuable invite, which any governor would welcome. In terms of helping Pennsylvania's Democratic politicians, why didn't Obama invite Senator Casey? It would have been a nice invite for Allegheny County Executive Democratic candidate, Rich Fitzgerald, as well.
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/harrisburg_politics/Corbetts-attend-White-House-state-dinner-honoring-German-leader.html


Corbett attend White House state dinner honoring German leader

House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, the Grammy-award winning singer James Taylor and Gov. Corbett. What do these individuals and - 217 others - have in common? They were all guests at state dinner at the White House Tuesday night.

Gov. Corbett joined President Obama, international dignitaries, Congressional leaders, journalists and others at a dinner in the Rose Garden honoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said the governor had no particular connection to Germany but was honored to be invited.

From the what's-wrong-with-this-picture department, among those Corbett rubbed elbows with were U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, union leaders and some of the top Democratic fundraisers and strategists.

Corbett witnessed the president presenting Merkel with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the U.S. for her contributions to security and world peace.

Other notable area names on the guest list were former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and his wife Sharon, and Richard Fante, of Newtown Square, CEO of AstraZeneca U.S.


It was the first state dinner for a European leader since Obama took office in 2009.

Click herefor Philly.com's politics page.

[blue neen]

6. Corbett damn well ought to feel honored.

I wonder which loaded up SUV he took on the trip.

[Divernan]

7. Chauffered by the state police, as usual, no doubt.

Once they cross the state border, state police are out of their jurisdiction and have no police power. They're basically private bodyguards on the state payroll, and getting all kinds of overtime for an overnight trip. Maybe Obama should lend his new BFF, Corbett some Secret Service personnel. Let the federal taxpayers pick up the tab.

[blue neen]

8. So what Democrat did you want to see elected to the White House in '08?

It seems like you're fairly unhappy with the one we have.

Personally, I'd rather leave discussion of the President to other forums here on DU. :)

[Divernan]

9. I generally agree, but definitely don't want ANY leading Democrats

giving any positive PR to Corbett or political advantage to the state GOP, particularly if they single him out while ignoring Democratic governors.
Sure, if all the governors are invited to the White House, fine. But this invitation to meet the most powerful politician in the most powerful country in the EU has a lot of value to any politician. If only one governor was to be invited, why not a Democratic one? And if Obama wanted to include someone from Pennsylvania, why not invite our Democratic candidate for County Executive?

In answer to your question, when I worked my butt off for Obama in both the primary and general elections, & contributed to his campaign, actions like this one favoring Corbett were NOT what I expected to see coming out of the White House.

Furthermore, we have a very big German corporate presence in Allegheny County and we have a very important election in Allegheny County next fall for county executive. You know for sure that Corbett will campaign for the GOP/businessman nominee, whose main campaign theme is that he will bring new businesses to the county.

Not hard to imagine Corbett pushing how good the GOP candidate will be at that, and saying, "Why I was just at the White House, talking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about expanding the German business community's presence in Allegheny County."

Bayer has its US headquarters in Robinson Township & has 2,700 employees in the region, plus a spinoff company, Lanxess, with another 300 employees. As detailed in the article linked below, there are some 75 German companies with operations in the Pittsburgh region. Three other big German presences are: Ardex (100 local employees)makes specialty building materials; Draeger (120 local employees) produces safety equipment such as breathing masks for firefighters; and Flabeg Solar (200 local employees) makes specialty glass and mirror technologies to concentrate solar power, AND is building a $30 million plant in Findlay Township.


FOREIGN FIRMS CALL PITTSUBRGH HOME
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
By Joyce Gannon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes her way home after the G-20 summit wraps up later this week, Randy Dearth would like nothing more than for her to visit his office for 10 minutes on her way to Pittsburgh International Airport.

Mr. Dearth is president and chief executive of Lanxess Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of German chemicals company Lanxess. His office is in Findlay, not far from the Parkway West route that many G-20 delegates will travel to get to the airport.

Ideally, Mr. Dearth would like to assemble officials from 75 or so German companies that have operations in the region "to show her our support" as Ms. Merkel seeks re-election to office in a national vote scheduled for Sunday in Germany.

But the gathering Mr. Dearth envisions also would be an opportunity to let Germany's top-ranking official know that "there are German-owned companies in Pittsburgh," he said. "Foreign investment is a strong piece of the economy and a continually growing sector in our economy," said Mr. Deane. "It's generating long-term jobs."


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09265/999691-482.stm#ixzz1P5Rcpv5b

On edit: This personal contact with Merkel also gives the local GOP cred when soliciting campaign contributions from the German business interests in the county and state.

[blue neen]

10. I understand what you are saying.

I have close relatives working for one of those German corporations, so at this point I'm grateful that they're here. They are providing relatively stable jobs with good benefits.

I don't feel I have enough knowledge to question why Corbett was invited to meet Merkel, but it may well be due to the presence of those companies in our area.

I still feel that Marcellus Shale looting in our state will end up being Corbett's Achilles Heel. Democrats and Republicans alike are furious with what his administration has let them get away with.
Let's hope that the Democrats have a good gubernatorial candidate next go round. Corbett will be vulnerable.

To Penn's Woods!

:toast: