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Secretary Hanger, Sen. Mary Jo White Duel Over West Nile Virus Budget
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Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Majority Chair Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) tangled again over budget issues, this time over funding for the West Nile Virus Program. This year, Secretary Hanger said, Gov.. Rendell proposed $4.6 million to battle West Nile. Currently, surveillance and control efforts are underway in all 67 counties, maintaining current levels of funding. However, a Senate-approved budget bill, Senate Bill 850, would reduce next year's funding by 40 percent to $2.8 million, and force DEP to consider eliminating counties from the program.
"Pennsylvania has a monitoring, surveillance and spraying program in place that has been proven effective in controlling mosquito populations and decreasing human cases of West Nile, but the threat of humans contracting the disease still exists," said Secretary Hanger. "If we cut back our aggressive efforts to battle mosquitoes, we will place a large percentage of our residents at risk for contracting this deadly disease."
Sen. White took issue with a press release issued by Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, which warned that under Senate Bill 850, the Department of Environmental Protection would need to consider ending the participation of counties in the program.
"Gov. Rendell requested $4.25 million for the county spraying program," said White. "Senate Bill 850 appropriated $5.193 million for West Nile protection – certainly enough money to cover the amount requested by the Governor."
Sen. White noted that, according to DEP, Senate Bill 850 provided only $2.8 million for county spraying efforts. "This number is simply fabricated," said Sen. White. "Unfortunately, it appears that DEP is willing to let personnel and operating costs trump actual spraying to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. That approach is misguided."
Additionally, Sen. White pointed out that the Department of Environmental Protection has control over a Clean Water Fund, with a balance of nearly $6 million. If DEP believes insufficient funds were appropriated to properly protect citizens from the threats posed from West Nile Virus, DEP has the discretion to utilize money from the Fund to safeguard the health of Pennsylvanians. NewsClip: Mosquito Control Program Said In Peril Link: More Severe Environmental Funding Cuts Looming For 2009-10 Budget |
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6/12/2009 |
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