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For Immediate Release
July 5, 2005
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Senate Passes Environmental Bond
Legislation
Rejects Call by Governor to
Increase Taxes
Executive Summary (PDF)
Final Amendment (PDF)
 
Legislation to implement the $625 million environmental bond approved
by voters in May passed the General Assembly today and is headed to
Governor Rendell, according to state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21), who
chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
The legislation authorizes the Commonwealth to borrow $625 million
over six years for a variety of environmental and conservation
initiatives collectively known as "Growing Greener." The program was
initiated in 1999 by former Governor Tom Ridge, and sponsored by White
in the Senate.
"Growing Greener provides funding for a host of important needs -
acid mine drainage abatement, mine reclamation, oil and gas well
plugging, parks and recreation, open space and farmland preservation and
State park and forest improvements," said White. "It has empowered
local volunteer groups and provided measurable improvements to our
environment and added protection of our natural resources."
Debt service on the bond will be paid by using a portion of the
existing $4.25 per-ton fee charged for waste disposal at landfills.
Governor Rendell had originally proposed increasing taxes on households
and businesses by nearly $150 million annually to pay debt service and
fund other projects. Senate Republicans rejected the governor's
proposal.
A key provision of the legislation is the creation of an innovative
County Environmental Initiative program, a concept spearheaded by White
and Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill. Under this program,
each county will be able to designate at least $1 million in priority
projects to be funded from bond proceeds. The actual amount for each
county was determined by the county's class as designated under state
law.
"Senate Republicans put forth a simple proposition: that local
communities – not Harrisburg – should be able to establish priorities
for some of this funding, and that the money should be equitably
distributed across the Commonwealth," said White. "This legislation
does so without increasing the tax burden on hard working
Pennsylvanians."
Other highlights of the package include:
- At least $100 million for improvements to State parks and State
forests;
- $80 million to supplement farmland preservation programs;
- At least $60 million for acid mine drainage abatement and mine
cleanup;
- $90 million for open space conservation;
- $27.5 million to the Fish & Boat Commission and $20 million to
the Pennsylvania Game Commission for infrastructure improvements;
- Continued funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, a
priority of Senate Republicans.
White also noted the legislation continues
support for county and local government recycling
programs through a $2 per-ton recycling fee.
Governor Rendell sought to redirect the funding to
other programs.
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