Stilp, fellow activists disrupt Shale meeting

ANGELA COULOUMBIS Philadelphia Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau

A group of environmental activists and others briefly disrupted the second meeting of Gov. Corbett’s Advisory Commission Wednesday morning with loud protests and demands to be heard.

The activists believe the commission is stacked with industry representatives rather than real people affected by drilling and should be immediately disbanded.

The commission was assembled by Corbett to advise him on the impact of drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The commission is expected to make its recommendations by July, including whether to impose any levy on natural gas extraction.

Earlier in the day, Harrisburg activist Gene Stilp, a Luzerne County native, crashed the commission’s discussion by crawling underneath their meeting table and accusing them of being part of a "prostitution ring."

Then, pointing to Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, who heads the commission, Stilp said "and you are the biggest prostitute in the room."

He was quickly escorted out.