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Benjamin Franklin established the nation's first special assessment district when he created the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia, a volunteer fire department. Today there are more than 37,000 special districts in the United States. Local governments use them to pay for everything from sewer systems to sidewalks to mosquito abatement â€" all in response to important community concerns.
It doesn't exactly mark the Age of Aquarius, but amid the partisan rancor paralyzing Washington, two Republicans and a Democrat have joined forces to introduce legislation to revive a popular residential solar financing program scuttled by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last year.
Rep. Mike Thompson and a pair of Republicans are trying revive a way for property owners to pay for projects like installing solar panels and energy-saving windows as a surcharge on their property tax.
Such property-assessed clean energy, or PACE, programs looked to be moving forward in Davis and across the country. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac derailed them last year by saying they would not accept loans that included PACE liens.
Three members of Congress -- two Republicans and one Democrat -- joined for a press conference on Wednesday to promote The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program and urge the rest of Congress to join them.
The bipartisan group of members included Reps. Mike Thompson (D-St.Helena), Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.), and Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) who introduced the PACE Protection Act of 2011. The PACE program is currently available in 28 states.
Today a bipartisan group of members - Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Nan Hayworth, M.D. (R-NY), and Dan Lungren (R-CA) - introduced the PACE Protection Act of 2011. The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program - currently available in 27 states and the District of Columbia - allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for their homes and commercial buildings - without any government subsidies or taxes. More important, it will means lower utility bills for property owners and job creation in the hard hit construction industry.
“We are pleased that the Obama Administration is committed to addressing the growing issue of electronics waste, which now represents the fastest growing waste stream in the United States.
“Don't let the name of the ‘Cut, Cap, and Balance Act' fool you. This misguided legislation may slash spending, but it's nowhere near fiscally responsible. It requires immediate and deep spending cuts that will put more Americans out of work and jeopardize our nation's ongoing economic recovery.
California's U.S. senators and more than half of its congressional delegation backed a request from the state's flower growers for $15 million to build a transport hub that would help counter Colombian competition.
The July 14 letter, which includes Sens.
Congressman Mike Thompson has been honored with a Friend of the National Parks award from the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for his contribution to protecting and enhancing America's national parks.
The award, presented to 236 members of Congress on July 13th recognized members with pro-park voting records during the 111th Congress.