Senator Pileggi

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) and Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) this week circulated draft legislation that would provide both a short-term and longer-term solution to funding the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program.

The proposal would authorize $15 million to be transferred from existing legislative accounts, including legislative reserve accounts, to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund to fully fund the program through the 2007-08 fiscal year.

The Department of Environmental Protection already has sufficient funding for the program through December 2007.

The proposal would also dedicate $40 million in revenue annually from the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax to fund Hazardous Sites cleanups as a longer-term solution to funding.

The legislation would not change the current commitment under existing law to phase out the CSFT as of December 31, 2010. The proposal would require a new source of revenue for the 2011-12 fiscal year and beyond.

“We would have preferred to avert this crisis by addressing HSCA in the budget,” said Sen. Pileggi. “But this proposal is a common-sense approach that meets our obligation to the communities which rely on this important program.”

“Budgeting is about priorities, and HSCA funding has consistently been a priority for Senate Republicans,” said Sen. White. “This proposal provides valuable time to find a permanent funding solution for HSCA, and it does so without raising taxes on Pennsylvania residents and businesses.”

9/14/2007