With an emphasis on no new taxes and fees, the House voted along party lines to pass its Green PA Plan and send it to the Senate. The Senate, meanwhile, voted unanimously to send a proposal to the House to restore the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

The four hour plus debate in the House was punctuated by votes along party lines to turn down additional fees to fund the Fish and Boat and Game Commissions, charging fees on resource recovery facilities and to provide funding for historic preservation tax credits in House Bill 3 (Quigley-R-Montgomery), the implementing legislation for the House Republican Green PA Plan. The vote on final passage – 109-86.

The House did amend the bill to make available funding for operation and maintenance costs and increased the funding set aside for restoration of abandoned mine lands from $15 to $39 million, which made less money available for other traditional Growing Greener uses.

Although amendments including the Governor’s original Growing Greener II proposal were listed on the voting schedule, they were withdrawn by House Democrats.

House Bill 2 (Quigley-R-Montgomery), which contains the $800 million bond issue question to be put on the ballot, was amended to remove language limiting the payback of the bond issue with existing waste disposal fees. Final passage –183 to 12.

House Bill 2 was amended to specifically insert “farmland” preservation in the ballot question and deleted language in the question referring to paying for the $800 million with “existing waste disposal fees.”

Gov. Rendell weighed in on the House debate by sending an email to each member threatening to veto the bills if significant changes were not made.

After the vote, Rendell issued a statement saying he was pleased the House passed the legislation to put the bond issue question on the ballot, but again said he thought House Bill 3 was “fundamentally flawed.”

"I am gratified that the House leaders and their members recognize that we must put this initiative before the voters of Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Rendell. “By passing House Bill 2, which authorizes an $800 million bond issue ballot question to support environmental programs, the voters of Pennsylvania will finally have their voices heard on an important package that will dramatically improve the environment and quality of life in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, House Bill 3, the "GreenPA" legislation, is fundamentally flawed and does not reflect the spirit, or the intent of my Growing Greener II initiative. I cannot sign this bill in its current form.”

House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) said, “Green PA balances the various concerns and issues with a sound and fiscally responsible policy. As the governor is proposing budget cuts in health care, cancer research, police and fire protection, various groups are complaining that Green PA only spends $170 million annually. Who is being unreasonable? Green PA puts more money into programs than the governor’s plan, which puts more tax dollars into repaying debt.”

The Senate also took action this week to unanimously pass Senate Bill 149 (MJ White-R-Venango) that earmarks one-quarter mill of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax—about $34 million annually -- to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund. The bill must now be considered by the House.

The fundamental differences between the Administration and Senate and House Republican leaders continues to be whether to impose new fees to support additional environmental spending and the size of the bond issue to be put on the Spring ballot.

A Quinnipiac University poll released this week again showed support for “raising $800 million for environmental cleanup and land preservation” – 54 to 38 percent. But the poll asked a follow up question this time-- would their support change if they knew it was paid for by increased waste fees imposed on them? Support dropped six points to 48 percent.

Here’s a thumbnail sketch of both plans—

Scope

Rendell Growing Greener II –

· $800 million bond issue spent over 4 years for: restoring streams and abandoned mine lands, cleaning up brownfields, investing in alternative energy sources, preserving farmland and open space, improving recreation, expanding affordable housing, community redevelopment and infrastructure needs of the Fish & Boat and Game Commissions;

· Providing $25 million more for recycling;

· Providing funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund (declining in future years)

· Funding proposed energy sales tax holiday on certain energy efficient appliances;

· Funding increased green energy purchases by state government;

· Providing grants to local governments for smart land use planning;

· Providing grants to local governments to for historic preservation tax credits; and

· Existing Growing Greener Program would be funded at slight higher levels.

Green PA Plan –

$2 billion commitment through 2033 in these major areas—

· $800 million in funding for original Growing Greener purposes spend over 7 years– watershed restoration, recreation, State Park and State Forests, open space and water and sewer infrastructure ($170 million increase over currently planned funding through 2012);

· Operation and maintenance of watershed restoration projects;

· Hazardous Sites Cleanup Funding - $25.6 million annually through 2033; and

· Farmland Preservation - $10.2 million annually through 2033.

· An Endowment Fund by 2033 provides $178 million for original Growing Greener II purposes.

· Original Growing Greener funding would end as currently scheduled in 2012.

Funding Sources

Rendell Growing Greener II

· Existing $4.25/ton fee on municipal waste would increase by $5/ton to $9.25.

· New fee on solid residual waste at $4/ton

· New fee on chemicals reported in Toxics Release Inventory of 15 cents per pound

· Total annual fee income about $153 million for life of program.

Green PA Plan

· Existing $4.25/ton fee would be continued through 2033, instead of expiring 2012.

Legislative Language

Rendell Growing Greener II: House Bill 260, and from last session: House Bill 2010 and House Bill 2628.

Green PA Plan: House Bill 2 and House Bill 3

Visit the Growing Greener II webpage and the Green PA Plan webpage for more information on both plans.

NewsClips: House OK’s Green Plan, Rendell Will Veto

Green PA Plan Falls Short

Green Plan Gets House Approval

GOP’s Greener Measure Advances

Why Growing Greener II is the Right Choice for PA

Growing greener? House passes plan; veto threatened

House Approves Green Funding

House Passes Republican Environmental Plan

2/18/2005