Conservation Voters of PA Endorse Will Sylianteng

Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania endorsed Will Sylianteng for State Representative in the 151st District.

Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania (CVPA) is a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for sound environmental policies and works to elect pro-environment candidates who will adopt and implement such policies. CVPA is an independent state affiliate of the national League of Conservation Voters.

"Will Sylianteng puts a priority on the health and safety of the people of Pennsylvania," CVPA Executive DirectorJosh McNeil said. "Good laws come from good lawmakers, and Will Sylianteng is the lawmaker we need to fight for common-sense protections for the air we breathe and the water we drink."

"Our campaign is extremely grateful for the support and endorsement of the Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. This endorsement means a lot to the campaign as environmental issues are a top priority for our grassroots organization," Sylianteng said. "During the past two years, with the support of my opponent Rep. Todd Stephens, we have seen drastic cuts to the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the passage of Act 13 (the infamous natural gas "fracking bill"), which most environmental groups consider one of the worst pieces of environmental legislation in our Commonwealth’s history."

Representative Todd Stephens earned a 46 percent score on the 2011-2012 Marcellus Shale Scorecard produced by CVPA in conjunction with Clean Water Action, PennEnvironment and the Sierra Club. Though Montgomery County would have benefited from higher tax rates on gas drillers, Stephens voted three times to limit fees and taxes for the natural gas industry. He voted to raid $7.5 million from state conservation programs in order to subsidize natural gas programs.　　

"When it came down to the wire on Act 13, Todd Stephens had a choice: to protect the interests of his constituents or to do the bidding of Governor Corbett and the oil and gas industry executives that have spent millions to influence Pennsylvania politicians," McNeil continued. "He chose wrong. We deserve a representative that stands with us, not another rubber stamp for Tom Corbett."

Will Sylianteng is the Democratic candidate running against State Rep. Todd Stephens in the 151st district in Montgomery County. A successful attorney, he resides in Montgomery Township with his wife and two year old daughter, and he is running for state legislature to work hard to ensure that Montgomery County continues to be a great place for families to raise their children.