Monday, November 2, 2009

Tolling I-80 - Thompson's Reaction

Washington, D.C. - The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and the Rendell Administration submitted a third application to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for tolling authority of Interstate 80. Both previous applications were rejected in a process that has literally taken years to accomplish. U.S. Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson opposes the change of I-80 to a toll road, and feels that tolls on existing interstates are a double tax.

"Act 44 has been a dice roll from the beginning. The Governor knew this, the Legislature knew this, and the Turnpike Commission knew this. All were complacent, as they sat back and allowed the Turnpike to borrow and spend almost $2 billion since July 2007, without any guarantee of repayment.

"After an initial review of the financial analysis, it expressly states that 1-80 traffic patterns have uncertainty to them once tolls are placed on the Interstate. Any diversion, which is not addressed in this application, will have an effect on revenues and will jeopardize future highway and bridge funding," said Thompson.

Act 44 actually doubles the scope and size of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Thompson notes "This is the same Turnpike Commission that has been the backdrop for several scandals and a slew of indictments. Act 44 is a cover-up of years of mismanagement of taxpayer funds and the perpetuation of an antiquated and corrupt Turnpike Commission.

"This is not fair to the taxpayers in Pennsylvania - not just along the I-80 corridor, but in the Commonwealth as a whole," said Thompson. "This is about good government, not politics as usual in Harrisburg, the taxpayers in Pennsylvania deserve better. I have been in close contact with the Federal Highway Administration and plan to meet with them to voice my opposition. I look forward to working with my colleagues here in the House, who recognize the multiple flaws in this plan and remain committed to keeping I-80 toll free."

Pennsylvania has the highest state imposed diesel fuel tax nationally at 38 cents per gallon and the second highest state imposed gasoline tax at 31 cents per gallon. For every $1.00 in fuels taxes sent to Washington, Pennsylvania receives $1.15 back.

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Thursday, October 1, 2009

US Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson Receives Prestigious Award

Washington, DC - US Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson was honored with the Outstanding New Member Award by the Committee for Education Funding. The ceremony took place in Washington, DC and was sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the Arts and Entertainment Television Network and the National Education Association. Thompson is committed to our nation's students and is a member of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. He also serves on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee.

In May, Congressman Thompson wrote an op-ed in The Hill newspaper that said "As Congress moves forward with the goal of creating new jobs, we must place a national focus on retooling our workforce in order to remain competitive. We must ensure there are enough workers to fill the technical jobs that will soon be vacated by the retiring baby boomer generation and also make certain there are enough skilled workers to fill newly created jobs. This will foster real economic growth with realistic and sustainable jobs."

Recipients of other awards went to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, Senator Jim Webb, D-VA, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, Ellen Murray, Clerk of the Senate Labor, health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Timothy Bishop, D-NY.

The Committee for Education Funding is a non-profit and non-partisan coalition of over 80 organizations reflecting the education committee. This year, 2009, is their 40th anniversary.

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

H.R. 3326 Passes the House by Ovewhelming Margin - Could Mean Jobs for PA

July 31, 2009

H.R. 3326 Passes the House by Overwhelming Margin – Could Mean Jobs for PA

Washington, D.C.
– The Department of Defense Appropriations Act 2010 passed the House of Representatives 300-40 on July 30, 2009.

Should this bill pass the Senate, and be signed into law by the President, several communities in Pennsylvania’s 5th District will benefit, thanks to the hard working efforts of Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard.

Congressman Thompson is hopeful that job creation and positive economic conditions will result.

Thompson included $2 million in Research, Test, Development and Evaluation funds for the domestic production of nanodiamond by NanoBlox of Clarion. NanoBlox estimates this will create 10 new jobs.

Current sources of the nanodiamond material are available in China and Russia. “These funds will allow the United States to continue to be an independent producer of the nanodiamond material. We cannot be dependent upon the goodwill of other nations when it comes to materials for military applications; the military will be well served by creating a domestic source of this strategic and tactical material”, said Thompson.

Nanodiamond is a diamond material that originates from a detonation. “NanoBlox of Clarion will be a great addition to the local economy and will help attract other technology related businesses to the County,” Commissioner Donna Hartle said.

Another city in the 5th Congressional District to benefit from the passing of HR 3326 is Bellefonte. Thompson announced that $500,000 in Research, Test, Development and Evaluation funds for Piezo Resonance Innovations, Inc. (PRII), to further develop a battlefield ready feeding tube cleaning device.

Currently, PRII is using a National Science Foundation Grant. “These funds will allow further development of a practical application to help save the lives of our injured soldiers”, said Thompson, a former rehabilitation therapist.

PRII will work in conjunction with Penn State School of Nursing Experts and the US Army Medical Department (AMEDD).

“The US Military will be well served with the development of this device and I am glad a local firm will be on the forefront of this cutting-edge technology. I applaud the team at Piezo Resonance Innovations for their dedication to advancing medicine and as a father of a wounded soldier, I know these funds will be put to good use” said Thompson.

This technology is important to our military because injured soldiers are started on feeding tubes to keep nutrients in the body. In field units, tube clogging is a problem, and during air transport, changes in air pressure create additional strains on the injured soldier.

A feeding tube cleaner will decrease medical issues including infection, punctured lungs and possibly death.

Additionally, H.R. 3326 includes $2 million for KCF Technologies of State College to further develop and commercialize self-powered prosthetic limb technology.

The invention of computer controlled knee joints has dramatically improved lower limb prosthetic technology. A major downfall of these prostheses is the limited battery life. This funding will allow KCF to develop an energy harvesting device that will automatically recharge the batteries during normal walking and running activity.

Production will take place at KCF Technologies and will be directed by the Army. Penn State’s Biomechanics Laboratory, along with Otto Bock, a world leader in prosthetic technologies, are also partnering in this effort.

“These are the types of partnerships that can spur great economic development. The fact that the research, development and subsequent production will be done right here at home is frankly what we need a lot more of during these tough economic times”, said Thompson.

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Letter from the Congressman, August 09

Dear Friend:

Would you believe me if I told you our nation’s most important laws are created by a handful of elite liberal politicians and most Members of Congress never read them before voting?

It’s true: legislation is often produced in secret by a handful of liberal leaders and handed to Congress without anything close to enough time to read it in full.


I will never vote to pass a new law without reading it first. If liberal leaders insist on producing 900 page bills in secret and give us less than a day to read it before we have to vote, I will vote NO every time.


The so-called Cap and Trade legislation is a good example of this drive-through legislative process. In the middle of the night, liberal leaders presented Congress with an enormous bill we had no time to read in full, but even a cursory skim showed they were advocating massive tax increases that would raise energy prices by as much as 30 percent on families and small businesses. Their plan would have cost Pennsylvanians as many as 66,000 jobs when we already are in the worst recession in a generation.


I’ve done more than oppose Cap and Trade; I’ve offered a solution – an “all of the above” energy plan I introduced with colleagues in June. This plan gives incentives for renewable and alternative energy sources and builds 100 new nuclear reactors in the next twenty years. It encourages exploration and development of offshore oil and natural gas resources and puts some of the federal revenues from those resources to help develop and use new, clean energy technologies.

The current situation cannot stand – we need a comprehensive energy solution, and one that protects jobs while lowering the prices of gasoline, home heating oil, and natural gas for families, farmers, and small businesses.


An even bigger issue is one I am very familiar with – health care reform. As a recreational and physical therapist for 28 years, I am well-acquainted with the challenges our families and health care providers face and am committed to finding a solution where everybody wins.


Currently, elite liberal leaders have presented a plan that creates a government-run health care system that could lead to tens of millions of Americans losing their coverage, rations care (especially for senior citizens), taxes individuals and small businesses at a punitive rate, and will add hundreds of billions of dollars to our enormous national debt.


The liberal plan does not meet the criteria I have set for health-care reform including better access, better quality, patient-centered care, and choice. I will vote against it in September.

I support a plan that increases access to insurance and health care for small businesses and families, implements comprehensive medical liability reform, provides government with additional authority and resources to stop waste and abuse (when they are not causing it), reduces the number of uninsured Americans by at least ten million, and most important, expands choice and quality of care.


Even though I am only in my first year in Congress, I believe my efforts have had the effect of changing the debate on these two issues. Pennsylvanians want change, but they want the kind of change that leads to jobs, energy security, and family security, not debt and bureaucracy.

I will continue to fight for those changes, and, I assure you, I will read every proposed law before I vote to pass it.


Before long, the next election will be upon us. Already, I have seen signs special-interest groups who support the kind of elitist legislation I described above are working to defeat me. The only people on my side are families and small business owners like you.


You have already done so much to help me; can you do so once again?


Please send your contribution of $1,000, $500, $100, or $25 today to “Friends of Glenn Thompson" by going to www.friendsofglennthompson.com and contributing online.

You can also learn more about what I am doing and offer suggestions by visiting and registering for updates at www.friendsofglennthompson.com.

Thank you again for your support.

Friday, July 17, 2009


Thompson’s Bill Passes the House

Washington, D.C. – H.R. 2352, The Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009 bill passed the House of Representatives on May 20, 2009.

U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, is happy to announce that his bill, H.R. 1807, The Educating Entrepreneurs through Today’s Technology Act of 2009, also passed as a part of H.R. 2352.

Thompson’s bill will allow third-party vendors to distribute and conduct distance learning that uses the resources of the Small Business Administration and the 63 Small Business Development Centers throughout the country. Third-parties will be able to provide high quality tele-distance training through a competitive grants process that would be administered by the Small Business Administration.

Thompson explained that a void was created when Gov. Rendell stopped funding in the state budget for the Community Education Councils.

“As a freshman in Congress, it is gratifying to have my bill included in a larger bill and to see it passed on the floor of the House”, stated Thompson. The Senate will also need to pass this bill along until it reaches President Obama’s desk.

“If someone in a rural community can utilize a local center to learn about the financial, tax, insurance and legal issues involved in running their own business, then this bill will have done it’s job,” stated Thompson.

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Cap and Trade Bill Passes in the House

June 26, 2009

Washington, D.C. – The “American Clean Energy and Security Act”, H.R. 2454, passed by a close vote of 219 to 212, despite Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard, voting a resounding “No”. Forty-four democrats also opposed the bill.

Thompson has campaigned against this bill, stating “This bill may be the largest tax increase in American history and it disproportionately punishes rural America and the poor who will not be able to afford the jump in gasoline prices, fuel oil, natural gas and all the items made from those products. Fertilizer, for example, is produced using natural gas. Costs for agricultural products will rise and jobs will be lost,” says Thompson. “But don’t just take my words, President Barack Obama, while still a candidate, said that under his cap and trade utility plan utility rates would ‘necessarily skyrocket,’ and that those costs would be passed along to consumers.”

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission warned in a letter and Thompson has quoted many times, “if the Waxman-Markey bill were to pass, Pennsylvania is looking at a bleak scenario by 2020: a net loss of as many as 66,000 jobs, a sizeable hike in the electric bills of residential customers, an increase in natural gas prices, and significant downward pressure on our gross state product.”

Thompson admits that the bill comes with a funding section to help Americans who lose their jobs, when, and if, this bill becomes law.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Congressman Thompson Opposes Cap and Trade

US Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson Opposes Cap and Trade

Washington, DC – Republican Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson and many colleagues met in early May in a public summit to oppose the national energy tax, called Cap and Trade.

The House Representative Conference Chairman, Mike Pence (R-ION) will chair the House GOP American Energy Solutions Group, of which GT is a member. Thompson and many other Republicans are working on crafting solutions to lower energy costs for American families and small businesses.

“The truth behind the cap and tax plan is that it will lead to more taxes, fewer jobs, and more government intrusion. It won’t just raise the price of gas at the pumps and increase our home heating and cooling bills – but it will increase the cost of every product and service on which we rely,” stated Thompson.

“In this country, the President’s energy plan is a $646 billion tax that will hit almost every American family, small business and family farm. This makes no sense considering the current economic crisis in which we find ourselves,” explained Thompson.

The Republican American Energy Solutions Group will be holding a series of summits throughout the country, including one on May 26 in Pittsburgh, PA.