Gene Stilp
Encyclopedia
Gene Stilp is a political activist from Pennsylvania
. He is best known for opposing the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
and his use of props during political protests.
He is a non-practicing attorney who has filed many public advocacy suits against the government of Pennsylvania
. He is best known as an opponent of the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
.
In November 2008, a benefit concert was held for Stilp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
protesting the payout of pensions to hundreds of current and former employees of tire companies. The concert featured Bob Hemberger and the Door Shakers, whose front-man Bob Hemberger was affected by tire pensions and strongly opposes such pension benefits.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
named Stilp one of the three "Citizens of the Year" in 2005.
He was praised by Ralph Nader
for his use of props for political activism.
The Pennsylvania Report
named him to the 2009 "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics.
Known for ribbing former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell
about his weight, Stilp passed out bumper stickers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
one February 2 during Rendell's term as governor which read, "PLEASE, GOV. RENDELL - DON'T EAT THE GROUNDHOG
!"
on a pier of the late Marysville Bridge
in the Dauphin Narrows of Susquehanna River
north of Harrisburg. It was made of venetian blinds and stood 18 feet (5.5 m) tall. Six years later, after it was destroyed in a windstorm, it was rebuilt by Stilp and other local citizens, of wood, metal, glass and fiberglass, to a height of 25 feet (7.6 m).
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He is best known for opposing the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
and his use of props during political protests.
Political advocacy
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He is best known as an opponent of the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
.
In November 2008, a benefit concert was held for Stilp in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
protesting the payout of pensions to hundreds of current and former employees of tire companies. The concert featured Bob Hemberger and the Door Shakers, whose front-man Bob Hemberger was affected by tire pensions and strongly opposes such pension benefits.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
named Stilp one of the three "Citizens of the Year" in 2005.
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
for his use of props for political activism.
The Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
named him to the 2009 "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics.
Known for ribbing former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
about his weight, Stilp passed out bumper stickers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh. In 1907, Punxsutawney and Claysville boroughs were consolidated and incorporated as Greater Punxsutawney. A high-grade soft coal was mined in the surrounding region...
one February 2 during Rendell's term as governor which read, "PLEASE, GOV. RENDELL - DON'T EAT THE GROUNDHOG
Punxsutawney Phil
Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog resident of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. On February 2 of each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates the beloved groundhog with a festive atmosphere of music and food...
!"
Statue of Liberty replica
Stilp built and installed a replica of the Statue of LibertyStatue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
on a pier of the late Marysville Bridge
Marysville Bridge
The Marysville Bridge was a railroad crossing of the Susquehanna River between Marysville, Pennsylvania and Dauphin, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1858 and demolished in 1903...
in the Dauphin Narrows of Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
north of Harrisburg. It was made of venetian blinds and stood 18 feet (5.5 m) tall. Six years later, after it was destroyed in a windstorm, it was rebuilt by Stilp and other local citizens, of wood, metal, glass and fiberglass, to a height of 25 feet (7.6 m).