More than 60 members of General Assembly, Governor, Lt. Gov., accepted campaign contributions from pipeline company responsible for polluting drinking water

September 10, 2026

by Laura Harding

Campaign finance reports show campaign contributions from First Energy LP’s Energy Transfer Employee Management Company PAC, the pipeline company responsible for a Bucks County jet oil spill that is now the center of a criminal probe, and after the company pleaded no contest in 2022 to criminal charges for industrial waste spills and pollution that impacted the drinking water across 11 PA counties, to a bipartisan group of elected Pennsylvania officials that include U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, House Speaker Joanna McClinton and House Minority Leader Jesse Topper among the recipients. All contributions were received after the leak was confirmed and made public in January 2025. Residents claim that they have been reporting the issue since 2023.

An April lawsuit filed by the company is now asking Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court to declare parts of the PA Clean Streams Law unconstitutional. The law, first enacted in 1937 in response to alarming levels of water pollution brought on by the state’s large-scale industrial growth, sets water quality standards and empowers the PA Department of Environmental Protection to regulate discharges and establish penalties and enforcement. Additionally, Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, known as the Environmental Rights Amendment, guarantees the right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment for all people, including future generations.

Gov. Shapiro was the individual recipient of the largest contribution, receiving $10,000, followed by Rep. Jordan Harris who received $5,000. Senate President Pro Tem Kim Ward and Majority Leader Joe Pittman each received $3,500. House Minority Leader received an individual contribution of $1,000, and $3,000 to the PA Capitol PAC he chairs, that raised more than $1 million since launching at the start of 2025.

Local members of the General Assembly from the South Central PA region who accepted campaign contributions include Senator Greg Rothman ($2,500) along with Representatives Barb Gleam ($750) and Nate Davidson ($500).

The searchable table below lists all reported campaign contributions from publicly available reports for 2025 and 2026. Additional reports can be viewed at the links found in the article.