MACKEY PUSHES FOR LOCAL CONTROL ON BIOSOLIDS

State Representative candidate in the 124th Legislative District, Bill
Mackey, is taking his incumbent opponent David Argall to task for failing to
protect local citizens from the onslaught of waste materials being imported
into the district and all of Schuylkill County. He is once again
challenging Argall to stand up to the special interests that are dictating
the terms of "mine reclamation" and who gets to permit, monitor, and control
the sludge and other wastes that dumpers are cheaply disposing of at the
expense of our local environment.

Pennsylvania DEP recently notified Schuylkill Township that a biosolids
permit was issued to spread sludge from sewage treatment plants along a
stretch of several miles within the township and that it had 30 days to
appeal. Reportedly, interests of the company DEP issued the permit to have
also been involved in securing other sites within Schuylkill County for the
very same purpose. The Schuylkill Township supervisors are hosting a public
forum this Wednesday night at the township building to inform residents of
the dangers and hear their concerns.

Mackey again noted Argall's lack of action on the serious environmental
issues posed by yet even more importation of waste into the area under his
tenure- "as a member of the House leadership, why isn't he LEADING the fight
to protect us from these hazards?". Mackey and several campaign volunteers
visited citizens in the affected areas on Monday and will continue
throughout the week. He informed the residents of what he would do as their
Representative as well what his opponent has failed to do because he is
following- and not leading.

Mackey gave residents the following information- and many are demanding
answers as to why they are powerless to stop this sludge from sewage
treatment plants from being spread next to their homes?

That's the question residents should be asking our state government
representatives. We constantly hear lawmakers complain that DEP is to blame
and there is little our communities can do. These people "make the laws"
that permit the DEP to walk all over us and ignore our legitimate health &
safety concerns. Furthermore, these same laws they enact are designed to
forbid local communities from taking any action. WHY?

A great case in point is Representative David G. Argall. He is one of those
lawmakers who not only refuses to protect us, but refuses to take action to
let us protect ourselves from these hazards. WHY?

In October 2003, two busloads of area residents traveled to Harrisburg to
support HB 1144 that would have given local communities some control and
testing measures to provide protection for their citizens. Argall did not
support or sponsor the bill that day. Still today the bill is sitting in
committee at the behest of House leadership of which Argall is a member.
This is the case with many other bills which provide for local government
control including HB 2298 of 2002 that provides for even stricter local
enforcement options. WHY?

FOLLOW THE MONEY!

"This crap is all about money,"- state representative Bob Belfanti who
sponsored HB 1144. Argall knows all about that. He has previously
acknowledged taking thousands of dollars to fill his campaign coffer from
those who advocate polluting our environment with fly ash and dredge under
the guise of mine reclamation.

It has been reported in 2002 that interests of the Rich family would reap
$22.5 million for "reclamation" efforts under another Schuylkill County
permit at $37.50 per ton of sludge. (UMWA Journal Vol 113 #3)

Argall is also no stranger to the stench of tainted money when it comes to
sludge. Since 1999, he has received $11,125 in campaign contributions from
the Rich Family ( www.dos.state.pa.us). It is
unknown how much money he has received from lobbyists in support of
biosolids being dumped in our communities because Pennsylvania remains the
only state in the nation without a law to make this information public.
WHY?

Mackey agrees with the people and knows there is a proper recourse. He
demands Argall reveal exactly how many bills are languishing in the
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, or any other committee that
would provide for local control in these matters. In his leadership as
House Majority Whip, what has he done to get these bills to the floor for a
vote and how many has he sponsored?

Whose side is Argall on in this fight? And why?

This is political and it should be. Mackey knows that as a polished
politician Argall loves to play both sides of lobbyist fence. "Once again
we will hear the false argument.there is a balance between industry and the
environment," stated Mackey. It's a fallacious argument because both can be
done given the proper hard work and reigning in of lobbyist money- without
endangering people and the environment. Argall has repeatedly shown he
doesn't have the political will and determination to make this change happen
as well as being unable to convince his political colleagues and leaders of
what is important to his electorate.

Mackey encourages Argall to do the right thing in his last few months in
office by using his position to fully garner support and get local control
legislation out of committee burials to a full House of Representatives vote
and inform the special interests that the lawmakers representing this
constituency no longer need their influence and cash to determine what is
safe or "beneficial" to the health and welfare of residents.

Mackey said either way the message should be clear, "the FOR SALE sign
encouraging the dumping of toxic wastes and sewage sludge for PROFIT in this
district comes down at midnight on November 8th. My position in support of
the people who reject all of this pollution to protect their children and
the environment is crystal clear and uncompromised. I have the same fears.
Argall should do the right thing and disclose every lobbying effort ever
made to his favored position of denying local control to communities. That
is how open government and true accountability works."

Then again, Argall has spent the last 22 years promoting his own version of
"public service".

Bill Mackey