A statewide poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies for the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association (PWIA) shows that 71 percent oppose Gov. Rendell’s proposed environmental bond issue, once they understand it would ultimately be paid for by homeowners and businesses.

By a 2-to-1 margin voters agree that the governor’s proposed $5 per ton increase in trash collection fees is, in fact, the same thing as raising taxes.

Groups opposing the tax increase appeared at a press conference this week announcing the poll results. They included the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA), National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), Pennsylvania Chemical Industries Industry Council, Pennsylvania Coal Association, Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Electric Power Generation Association, Pennsylvania Builders Association, and Specialty Steel Industry.

Opposition to the governor’s plan was high among seniors, with 59 percent in opposition in the 55-64 age group and 60 percent in opposition in the over-65 age group. Geographically, opposition was widely spread statewide—except in the Greater Philadelphia region, which favored the plan.

Jim Panyard, president and CEO of PMA, said, “We’re not surprised by the finding that voters across party and regional lines say taxes are too high. It backs up our view that the heavy tax burden on Pennsylvania employers is slowing the growth of jobs and wages. In this kind of climate, it just doesn’t make any sense to increase taxes on trash and add new taxes on legal manufacturing emissions.”

Kevin Shivers, Pennsylvania state director of NFIB, commented, “The high cost of doing business in Pennsylvania is a difficult challenge for small businesses. Higher trash taxes just add to the burden. Our members have told us they strongly oppose higher trash taxes. It’s clear most Pennsylvanians oppose them too.”

A poll released in March by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Restoration and Conservation done by Madonna Young Opinion Research had 52 percent saying they would definitely vote for the proposal and another 18 percent saying “probably.”

In other activities surrounding the Growing Greener II issue, the House Appropriations Committee held an information meeting in Indiana June 3 on the proposal and heard comments from representatives of the Homer City Generating Station and their union.

Don Hoak, representing Local 459 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said, “Jobs are the reason I am here to oppose the proposed Toxic Release Inventory and Residual Waste taxes. Any taxes that will put these facilities at a competitive disadvantage are ultimately bad for the working man and woman of the Commonwealth.”

Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II proposal is included in several pending bills: House Bill 2621 (George-D-Clearfield) authorizing placing an $800 million environmental bond issue on the ballot, House Bill 2010 (Surra-D-Elk) adopting the various fees needed to pay for bond issue and other parts of the program, House Bill 2628 (Leach-D- Montgomery) authorizing Green Sales Tax Holiday. The tax holiday is also included in Senate Bill 765 sponsored by Sen. Williams (D-Philadelphia).

Meanwhile, Rep. McNaughton (R-Dauphin) introduced House Bill 2679 this week to raise the basic $4 Growing Greener fee on municipal waste to $23 per ton.

For more information and the results of the poll, visit www.pawasteindustries.org.

For more information on Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II proposal visit: www.GrowingGreener2.com

6/11/2004