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Politicians and political observers across Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. felt the earth move today. And it wasn’t a temblor from Mother Nature. Longtime Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (as in 29 years – longest-serving U.S. senator in Pennsylvania history) announced he is switching political parties to run for re-election in 2010 as a Democrat. He had been a Republican since 1966.

This is huge news and a potential political game changer of the highest order. By defecting to the D’s, Specter could give President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a virtual Democratic lock on Congress. If, as expected, Al Franken is declared the winner of the disputed Minnesota U.S. Senate race, Specter’s switch would give the Democrats 60 votes in the Senate. They would be able to block any filibuster attempts by the Republicans.

In a statement released at noon today, Specter, however, warned that the Democrats would not be able to take his vote for granted. “My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats than I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords’ switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change. Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy’s statement that sometimes Party asks too much. When it does, I will continue my independent voting and follow my conscience on what I think is best for Pennsylvania and America,” Specter wrote.

In fact, Specter has perplexed and often exasperated Republicans and Democrats alike during his three-decade-long run in the Senate for fiercely holding to an independent streak. Specter made the pitch in his statement that the Republican Party has left him, more than the reverse.

“Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” he explained.

Reports indicate that President Obama reached Specter by telephone shortly after his announcement and expressed his great pleasure with the senator’s decision and offered his “full support.” Just a few weeks ago, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell had urged Specter to switch parties and promised to help him raise funds but Specter insisted he wasn't leaving the GOP.

Specter, always a master at political gamesmanship, faced increasingly difficult odds of winning the Republican primary next year. First, there’s the matter of 200,000 fewer Republicans, many of whom come from the more moderate (Specter-leaning) suburbs of Philadelphia where he needed to score big numbers to secure the GOP nomination. Second, he would have had to overcome the challenges of former U.S. Congressman and former president of the conservative Club for Growth Pat Toomey whom he narrowly beat (1% of the vote, about 17,000 votes) in 2004, as well as conservative activist Peg Luksik. Both Luksik and Toomey have pointed to Specter’s decision to support President Obama’s economic stimulus bill as a motivation for their candidacies against him. Luksik wrote in a statement today, "It is clear that Arlen Specter stands with President Obama on a host of issues and with this decision, has gone home to the Democratic Party.”

Specter noted the GOP backlash he’s getting over that stimulus vote. “When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing. Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania,” he wrote.

So how is this seismic news playing with the GOP faithful back home? Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released this statement: "I am deeply disappointed in Senator Arlen Specter's decision to leave the Republican Party, as he has benefited from the support of our Party for many years. It is apparent that he chose to act in his own self-interest and put his political ambitions first. The Republican Party has room for conservatives and moderates because we are the Party of ideas.

"I, like many of my fellow Pennsylvania Republicans, took Senator Specter at his word when he said that he would not switch parties, and I believe he owes every Republican who has supported him over the last three decades an apology. I would urge Senator Specter to do the right thing and proactively return any and all campaign contributions he has received in recent months to run as a Republican in the upcoming election. I am sure that most, if not all, of these donors would not have supported a Democrat candidate. Senator Arlen Specter can rest assured that we are committed to winning this seat back for the Republican Party in 2010. I am confident that we will win this seat back."

The state GOP lost 200,000-plus registered voters in the 2008 presidential election. Gaining back even a modest number of those folks will be a Herculean effort. Specter said today he would return campaign contributions to those who request them.

I had been looking forward to a feisty primary battle between Specter and Toomey. Specter hinted in his most recent book, “Never Give In: Battling Politicians and Cancer in the Senate,” that the stress of his 2004 primary fight against Toomey might have led to his first bout with Hodgkins disease. I so wanted to ask Toomey if he thought he played a role in Specter's cancer diagnosis. I guess I’ll have to save that question now for the general election.

The temblor's already having aftershocks. Democratic State Representative Josh Shapiro says he will not run in the Democratic Senate primary. Joe Torsella, former head of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia has been raising money at a furious pace for his Democratic Senate bid and says he is still in the race.

We will have continuing coverage of this important national and state political story on Radio Smart Talk Wednesday morning and Smart Talk TV Friday night at 8:30. Please join us and let us know what you think of Specter’s move. Shoot us an email at smarttalk@witf.org.

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In another of Radio Smart Talk's series of programs featuring professionals answering listeners' questions, Dr. Theresa Burick will address medical questions -- not to diagnose but to define and educate.

Guest: Dr. Theresa Burick, DO, FACP

Dr. Burick featured on TV's Smart Talk health segment:

It’s Green Week at WITF Multimedia!

In the spirit of the times, we will focus on all things Green on Smart Talk Friday night at 8:30.

And we have a fascinating show in store for you. First, Producer Heather Woolridge introduces us to an unusual source for power … poop. To be more accurate, I should say manure, as in cow excrement. Farmer Steve Reinford carefully walks Heather through the process of converting tons of cow dung into biogas that can fuel his dairy farm and about 75 other homes every day.

Pat Topper, an agricultural research technician at Penn State University, explains, "You can take the manure that comes out of a cow … And if you anaerobically digest that manure you can turn that energy into biogas ... Basically how an anaerobic digester works is we let nature take its course. So the food that went through the cow, right? You know, the corns and the hays go through the cow. What the cow doesn’t need to make the milk, she’s going to excrete. That’s the manure. There’s still some energy in it."

The farmer puts the manure into a confined area with no oxygen -- that's the anaerobic part-- and lets it sit for about 20 days. Microbes degrade the manure and produce a biogas that contains energy. Heather notes, "On Steve’s farm in Mifflintown, the methane or biogas generated by manure is collected and converted into steam. Steve uses the heat generated by the steam to keep his 2500 sq ft house at a comfortable 70 degrees. The steam also powers a generator set that turns it into electricity. So instead of just producing milk on this dairy farm, he’s also producing electricity and selling it back to the power company for profit."

Steve tells Heather, "We got our first check from the electric company in January. I was amazed how much money we actually got. How much electricity can actually be generated by cow manure."

When you consider the number of dairy cows that call Pennsylvania home -- more than one million, there just might be an endless supply of the “raw material” needed for this kind of energy.

Speaking of raw materials, one of this region’s greatest natural assets is the Susquehanna River. My husband and I lived in an apartment in Harrisburg right along the banks of the river when we were first married. I still treasure the memories of watching the seasons change along the water, noting the migration of birds, and tracking the ebb and flow of the Susquehanna’s currents right outside our front door. It was a gift to be that close to one of nature's treasures.

The Susquehanna also is the largest contributor of freshwater to the Chesapeake Bay, the country's largest estuary. Because our state's rivers and streams play such a mighty role in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we have an obligation to help clean up pollution that threatens the health of the Bay. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from agricultural, urban and suburban runoff, and sewage treatment plant discharges feed algae blooms that literally choke oxygen from the Bay.

“The health of the Bay is dangerously out of balance.” That’s the conclusion of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in its 2008 report on the state of the Bay. The CBF gives the health of the Bay a nearly failing "D" – the same grade it has received for the last decade despite numerous mandated timetables and promises by government agencies to improve that score.

(In a documentary that aired this week on PBS, Frontline examined the dangers to our nation’s waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay, in a documentary called "Poisoned Waters.") According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, studies of the sediment and water samples from nearly every area of the Bay have detected PCBs, agricultural herbicides and components of oil. And according to NOAA, just 10 years ago there were about 800 million crabs in the Bay. In 2007, there were just 260 million. (But there were better signs of blue crab life in 2008.) Between 1998 and 2006, almost 4,500 crab-related jobs were lost in Maryland and Virginia, and the CBF pegs the cumulative economic loss from that industry's downturn at $640 million.

Starting with the first agreement in 1983, Pennsylvania governors have joined the leaders of Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in signing agreements to cut nutrient runoff and remediate farming and land development practices that contribute to pollution in the Bay. The latest agreement called for the signatories to meet stringent water quality standards for the Bay by 2010. However, those obligations entail million of dollars in upgrades to water and sewer systems in the watershed. The state Department of Environmental Protection put the upgrade bill at $190 million for 184 Pennsylvania municipal wastewater treatment systems that contribute significant nutrients to the Bay. Not so, said the firm of Metcalf and Eddy, hired by the PA Municipal Authorities Association. That firm came up with a capital cost figure of at least $1.4 billion and annual operation and maintenance costs of $61 million.

With residents now facing hefty increases in their water and sewer bills, many communities in the watershed question just how much responsibility Pennsylvanians should bear for the health of the Bay and how to afford the infrastructure improvements we are required to make. Consider that Pennsylvania's Legislature and voters statewide opted to kick in about $1.2 billion in state grants and loans for water, sewer, flood-control and dam projects but municipal authorities around the state, not just those in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, will compete for those dollars. And Pennsylvania can count on another $220 million in federal stimulus funds that may be used for water, sewer, and green-technology infrastructure improvements. Once again, however, that money will be distributed through a competitive process.

Last year, the Governor's Sustainable Water Infrastructure Task Force pegged the water and sewer infrastructure needs alone in PA at $113.6 billion over the next 20 years, $36.5 billion for only capital upgrades. So it's easy to see how the $1.4 billion in state and federal money set aside this year for everything isn't nearly enough and none of it is solely designated for Chesapeake Bay projects.

Note, as well, that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation filed suit in January against the EPA for what it calls a failure to enforce the Clean Water Act. The CBF demands that the EPA take the lead in improving water quality "so crabs, fish, oysters and underwater grasses can be restored and a way of life preserved."

On a bright note, the CBF report highlights a successful cleanup program in our area. "In Lititz Run, a small stream in southern Pennsylvania - an area of intensive animal farming, development, and related pollution - the brown trout has also seen an astonishing and encouraging comeback. Through community involvement, strict management of animal waste, and intensive stream restoration and protection efforts, water quality in this tiny tributary to the Conestoga and Susquehanna rivers has improved enough to support restocked trout year-round."

Secretary of the State Department of Environmental Protection John Hanger, Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Pennsylvania Office, and John Brosious, Deputy Director of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, will join us for a lively discussion of these issues.

Did you just sneeze? If so, you might be one of the thousands of midstate residents who suffer from seasonal allergies. And if you think the air’s bad here, you just might be right. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America publishes an annual list of America’s “worst places” for allergy sufferers and last year the Harrisburg metro area ranked 20th with an above average pollen score. The 2009 survey will be released on May 1. In the rankings of Asthma Capitals in 2009, Allentown, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh all crack the Top 20, while Lancaster hits 33rd place and Harrisburg scores 39th.

Health Smart Producer Heather Muha profiles the Scheuerman family of Lancaster whose two children suffer from seasonal allergies. The kids are on medication to control their symptoms. She'll explore some of the data on increasing cases of allergies. We’ll follow up on Heather’s report with an in-studio discussion about getting kids safely outdoors and into healthy activities.

Whether it’s fear of predators, risk of injury, the lure of computer and video games or seasonal allergy issues, it seems that fewer children in America partake in outdoor recreational activities than they did even 20 years ago. There's even an effort afoot called No Child Left Inside to reconnect children with the environment. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 1972 87% of children who lived within a one-mile radius walked or biked to school daily. Today, it’s just 13%. In the 1970s, about five percent of children were obese and that number has tripled over the last three decades. Type II diabetes, hypertension and obesity-related ailments are on the rise.

Chris Kemmerer, a nature specialist in the Bureau of Parks at the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Crystal Huff, Associate Director of the Agricultural Education Program at the Milton Hershey School's Horticultural Center will share some practical ideas for reconnecting kids to the great outdoors just in time for spring and summer fun. The folks at DCNR suggest, "Look local, make it a game." They point to a pretty innovative website http://www.geocaching.com/ where your kids can discover hidden treasures using GPS technology. You also might want to check out http://www.earthdaytv.net/. Click on "In the Classroom" and then select the "Where Do the Children Play?" video for some more thought-provoking ideas.

Crystal Huff adds her own thoughts via email, "Start early - 3 to 5 year old children are perfect. They are full of wonder and the world is truly a playground! Ownership - Make the garden 'their' place, not an adult garden. Clashing color combinations, imperfect planting, and wild designs are all perfect for a kid's garden. Everyone loves to eat - Easy to grow vegetables provide a connection from the garden to the table. If I can grow it, it has to taste good. Exploration - It is not really all about the plants. It is about digging in the dirt, seeing things grow (including the weeds), finding creepy crawlies and watching the clouds. It is OK to get dirty in the garden! Fun - It has got to be the child's special place to have fun with an adult. This is about a child having a relationship with an adult and the garden (nature). That relationship will provide the vital connection to nature that will last a lifetime. Remember - we cannot love what we do not know."

Those are just a few of our green topics this week. And the experts say ... forget what Kermit the Frog sang. It IS easy being Green, if you just give it a try! Join us Friday night at 8:30 for Smart Talk!

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WEEK IN REVIEW

Luis Ramirez Murder Trial
Guest: Pete Banko, Editor at Pottsville Republican & Herald

Aggressive Driving/Road Rage

International Segment on Pakistan
Guest: Tara Sonneshine, Executive Vice President at the United States Institute of Peace

Listen to MP3 of program.

Marcellus Shale gas. We keep hearing that it's potential energy source that could result in a windfall of billions of dollars for Pennsylvania. But what is it and what energy benefits will it provide? In a relatively recent discovery, it was found that natural gas could be extracted from beneath the black shale known as Marcellus that runs throughout many areas of Pennsylvania. Land has already been leased and drilling has begun. In his budget proposal, Governor Ed Rendell is counting on tax money derived from the drilling to add to the state's coffers. However, there are environmental issues -- the process utilizes a lot of water and some are concerned that
waterways near drilling sites could become polluted.
Guests:
Lou D'Amico, Executive Director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of Pennsylvania

Tom Murphy, Penn State Cooperative extension educator

Tom Beauduy, Deputy Director and Counsel, Susquehanna River Basin Commission

J. Scott Roberts, Deputy Secretary, Mineral Resources Management Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Listen to MP3 of program.

Is the climate changing? The universal answer is yes, but when the question is re-phrased to "is global warming a fact?" -- then there is some disagreement. You may not be able to find a breakdown by percentage, but by all appearances, most scientists believe the earth is warming and point to slightly rising temperatures and ice melts as evidence. However, a conference of scientists last month concluded global warming never was a crisis. How do we know what is fact?

Guests: Robert Giegengack, Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, and Jan Jarrett, President and CEO, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture).

Read "Al Gore is a Greenhouse Gas Bag" that profiles Prof. Giegengack in a recent Philadelphia Magazine article.

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Chesapeake Bay Clean Up: For more than 20 years, Pennsylvania along with the states of Maryland and Virginia and the District of Columbia have been spending millions of dollars and implemented dozens of environmental changes, all designed to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. According to its annual report, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says the nation's largest estuary is still in danger and gave the bay a "D" grade. The report says the bay continues to be harmed by high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that come from sewage plant discharges, lawn and farm fertilizers and animal waste. After 20 years, is there hope?

Guests: Matthew Ehrhart, Executive Director, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania Office, and Hedrick Smith, Producer, Frontline: Poisoned Waters.

Watch Poisoned Waters Tuesday at 9 PM on WITF-TV:

In today’s media environment, with so many newspapers folding, and online media becoming more ever-present each day, do you have the information you need to be an effective citizen? WITF's Radio Smart Talk, The Knight Foundation and PBS Engage would like to hear from you.

Click on the question you want to answer below.
1. Where do you find your information? Newspapers? Online? Television? Radio?
2. Do you think everyone in your community has access to the networks they need (online or in-person) to find important information?

Radio Smart Talk recently discussed the future of our local newspapers.
March 4, 2009 program (MP3).

Listen to MP3 of program.

UNDERSTANDING GREEN -- A BASIC PRIMER ON WHAT IS GREEN, WHO IS GREEN AND WHY GREEN. ALSO, GREEN JOBS AND BUSINESS. What is the motivation for this green movement and what it’s supposed to accomplish on a global, local and personal scale. How do we understand labels and where to go for accurate information? Also, we hear a lot about creating "green" jobs and establishing new "green" businesses.


GUESTS: Kathleen McGinty, Operating partner, Element Partners L.L.C., a private-equity firm that invests in growth-stage clean-technology companies. It has a regional headquarters in Radnor. And Rich Madeira, Vice President EnginuityEnergy.

RESOURCES:
Read a recent Q&A with Kathleen McGinty (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Engery Star
PA Department of Environmental Prodtection
U.S. Department of Energy