Gov. Rendell this week said FY 2010-11 should end June 30 with a $63 million shortfall caused, he said, by the General Assembly's failure to enact a Marcellus Shale natural gas severance tax.  Senate Democrats, however, said incoming Gov.-Elect Tom Corbett and the next General Assembly will face a $4.5 billion budget deficit.

A new poll released this week by Quinnipiac University found the pubic supports cutting services before raising taxes 56 to 30 percent and 60 percent believe the state budget problem is very serious while another 33 percent call it somewhat serious.
            The option of selling the state liquor stores was the most popular option for raising more revenue. 54 percent supported selling the stores, 17 percent favored leasing the Turnpike, 14 percent were for laying off state workers and 7 percent though raising taxes was a good idea.

More than half of American families now choose fake Christmas trees over natural, a trend that could have serious consequences for our environment.

The Staff of the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s state recycling association, has just one wish for Christmas – that all of their neighbors across the state go green.

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful received Keep America Beautiful President’s Circle Award at the President’s Circle Award Luncheon, during Keep America Beautiful’s 57th annual National Conference in Orlando, Fla. 

Tailgating at Steelers football games is a tradition for thousands of fans and part of that ritual is drinking plenty of beverages - and that leaves plenty of empty cans and bottles.

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice of the opportunity to bid on a mine reclamation project in Centre County, a mine reclamation project in Jefferson County and a reclamation project in Washington County.

by Sen. Richard Alloway II

This section gives you a heads up on upcoming deadlines for awards and grants and other recognition programs. NEW means new from last week.

Upcoming legislative meetings, conferences, workshops, plus links to other online calendars. Meetings are in Harrisburg unless otherwise noted.  NEW means new from last week.  Go to the online Calendar webpage.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.