During Day at the Capitol, members meet legislators

Mary Legatski
ASME Government Relations

Nearly 50 ASME volunteers gathered in the Harrisburg Capitol Building in February for a dynamic day-long program focusing on three key issues of importance to the engineering community: transportation, energy and education.

Jointly sponsored by ASME's Board on Government Relations' State Action Program, Region III and the Susquehanna Section, the "Day at the Capitol" event was an opportunity for ASME members to meet with legislators in an informal and open forum to participate in the public policy debate on issues of importance to the engineering community.

The kickoff speaker, Rep. Richard A. Geist, chairman of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Transportation Committee, commanded the attention of attendees by stating that "America is a third-world country when it comes to passenger rail."

Among members at the Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., are, from left, Ed Trunk, Tom Potter, Martin Rawhouser, Dave Kitlan, Ray Jackson, Bill Stewart and Larry Kessler.

For the past 23 years, Geist and others have attempted to bring high-speed passenger rail to the United States. The state-of-the-art design, according to Geist, is the German Transrapid 08, a frictionless railroad that can climb a 10 percent grade at 315 mph. Unfortunately, Geist said, the United States lacks the political will to embrace this advanced technology, even though it would reduce both the cost of passenger transportation and energy consumption.

"Engineers need to tell elected officials that we have to rebuild America, to become energy independent, and to apply technological advances to the transportation sector," Geist concluded.

Rep. Camille "Bud" George, minority chairman of the House of Representatives Resources and Energy Committee, continued the momentum by saying that electricity deregulation in Pennsylvania was "spawned in a bed of lies and deceptions" and built on faulty specifications.

As a result, he said, the state's deregulation effort has meant increased distribution rates and inflated stranded costs. Only its relatively small population base has saved Pennsylvania from experiencing power shortages similar to those of California. Just as regulations ensure that air and water are clean and that food is safe, George said regulations are needed to govern the reliability of electric energy supply and related environmental issues.

A self-described Republican environmentalist, Rep. Frank Tulli Jr., chairman of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic Development, addressed the assembly on the topic of renewable energy.

Tulli reported that the Renewable Energy Caucus, of which he is a member, will introduce four bills to promote the development and use of renewable energy throughout the state, with the ultimate goal of achieving future sustainable energy development of non-carbon-based fuels.

The bills will be introduced in March, with hearings throughout the summer, and floor debate during the fall.

Wrapping up the day's program, former teacher, principal and school superintendent Sen. James J. Rhoades, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said, "A school reflects its community. If a community wants good schools, it will have good schools."

Rhoades said that standards need to be developed for pre-kindergarten through two-year technical training schools and that critical thinking — what is objective and what is subjective — should be added to the basic curriculum, as should a uniform discipline code. He warned, "Without discipline, purpose and hard work, the system falls apart."

"Day at the Capitol" events can be sponsored by any ASME section or region. ASME units may apply for funding through the State Action Program or for funding to underwrite similar outreach activities.

For an up-to-date listing of the public policy issues that ASME members have identified as current priorities, refer to the ASME Public Policy Agenda 2001-2002 at www.asme.org/gric.

For more information on the State Action Program, please contact Mary Legatski in the ASME Washington Center, (202) 785-3756 or at legatskim@asme.org.

back to news & features