For those of you following the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program progress, you've been invigorated by the nearly 5000 people statewide who overwhelmingly commented in favor of the rule this summer. That's because you know that the program will cut unhealthy and even deadly air pollution from one of the most predominant sources: our own cars and trucks. And you also know that in the bargain, we'll come away with options to buy more fuel efficient vehicles, saving us gas and money. The program will even help to cut back on Pennsylvania's contributions to global warming.

Despite the groundswell of public support, and an affirmative vote to move ahead toward better public health by the state's Environmental Quality Board, legislators this week opted to move on nasty legislation that kills the program, favoring instead a weak federal rule that leaves Pennsylvania short on achieving legally-required cleanup targets for unhealthy air pollution.

SB 1025 passed the Pennsylvania Senate in February, but was for many months bottled up in the House, presumably because Representatives had the good sense to pay attention to citizens and their support for the rule. SB 1025 takes away the Pennsylvania program that would require a certain number of cars and trucks sold, leased, and rented in the Commonwealth meet low emission standards, making what we have in place today "optional," (read: over), and putting in its place the federal rule that many of our neighboring states have already replaced. The House is poised to take a vote on the bad Senate bill as soon as October 23rd.

In this podcast, PennFuture's Christine Knapp talks with folks who came out earlier this year during one of the public hearings on the program. Pennsylvanians everywhere shared personal stories about why cleaner cars and trucks truly matter to them.

After listening, we urge you to take action in support of the program by asking your State Representative to vote NO on SB 1025, or any legislation that would block the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program. To learn more, visit our Web site or contact us at podcast (at) pennfuture (dot) org.