The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Monday unanimously approved and reported out House Resolution 948 (Causer-R-Cameron) requesting the Auditor General to do a financial audit of the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority nonpoint source water pollution control program.

The resolution now goes to the full House for consideration.

“The overwhelming support for the resolution clearly demonstrates the widespread concern of lawmakers from across the state about these transactions and whether they are an appropriate or lawful use of PennVEST funds,” said Majority Chair Rep. Martin Causer. “As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure our taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately.”

The resolution was prompted by a March 26 information meeting the Committee had on the $50 million in loans the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority made to Lyme Timber Company to help the private company buy 60,103 acres of private forest land in 6 Northern Tier Counties.

At the meeting, a number of members questioned whether financing the purchase of forest land by a private company was the best use of $50 million in PennVEST money.

The goal of the audit is to determine if the $50 million loan falls within the definition of “project” under Act 16 of 1988 that established PennVEST.

Click Here for a video of the meeting (when posted).

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Majority Chair of the House Agriculture Committee and can be contacted by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com. Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-Luzerne) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by sending email to: epashins@pahouse.net.

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House Ag Committee: Is A $50M PennVEST Loan To Buy Forest Land The Best Use Of That Public Funding?

[Posted: June 11, 2018]

6/18/2018