Pennsylvania’s Constitution (Article 1, Section 27) promises every resident clean air, pure water, and a healthy environment. That’s not just a slogan — it’s a right. And it’s a right our state’s Supreme Court has recognized and protected.
In the landmark Robinson Township case, the Court set the precedent that communities have the right to protect themselves from harmful drilling practices, thus establishing their right to limit fracking. Since then, Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht have carried that commitment forward. In the 2021 Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation (PEDF) case, they ruled that funds from oil and gas leases must be used to preserve our environment, not diverted elsewhere. This reaffirmed that Pennsylvania’s natural resources belong to the people, and the state must act as a trustee.
Now, with a major decision pending on whether Pennsylvania joins the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), we need justices who will uphold Article 1 and protect the public’s rights. That’s why I’m voting YES to retain Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht. Our health, environment, and future depend on it.
Editor's note: This article appeared as a Letter to the Editor in the Reading Eagle on September 23, 2025.
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