Michael Sauers

July 6, 2026

Under a legal principle known as the Dillon Rule, local governments are “creatures of the State” and possess only the powers expressly granted to them by the State. This was first articulated in 1868 and was upheld by two U.S. Supreme Court rulings (1903-1923). Essentially, municipalities could no longer govern organically based on the needs of their populations.

Please note for future reference that our elected leaders routinely ignore Article III, Section 15 (Public School Money Not Available to Sectarian Schools) and Article I, Section 27 (Environmental Rights Amendment) of the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Here we are today. The U.S. Constitution makes no specific mention of local governments. In effect we are subject to State “or the people” control through the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The people part is where the rubber meets the road. The Pennsylvania State Legislature (House and Senate) have and continue to make laws that address police powers, public education, marriage, intrastate commerce, public safety, zoning, taxes, infrastructure maintenance, municipalities planning codes (land use), etc. The State is driving the bus BUT the bus can be stopped and turned around.

How? We elect the people who do the above. They have the power to change codes, regulations, rules, time schedules and laws, all subject to legal interpretation.

So, the answer to the state/industry/stakeholders jackboots on our throats regarding hyper-mega developments like “data centers”, pipelines, fracking wells, power plants, warehouses and other behemoth projects is the State, specifically our Representatives, Senators and Governor. The aforementioned projects are the result of a top down economic development paradigm that excludes 99% of the citizens. We, the people, find out about these plans long after they have been hatched sometimes with associated non-disclosure agreements. Local municipality boards like supervisors, zoning and planning are heavily influenced by state government and they are overwhelmed. This is where “people” power steps up.

Governor Shapiro, Representative Ledbetter and Senator Culver should support and help pass a three year moratorium on “data centers” in Pennsylvania. They should propose and enact legislation that gives local communities the right and power to say NO! They should encourage and support full-throated community debate and the placing of these proposals on the ballot for a yea or nay decision.

Short of this they should not be re-elected. Remember, they work for us!