Statement from Senate Republicans on Governor’s Environmental Bond Proposal

 

In response to several inaccurate media reports, it is important for all members of the media and public to properly understand how Governor Rendell proposes to pay for his $800 million environmental bond.  Specifically, the Governor proposes a menu of new trash taxes on municipal and residual waste.  A portion of this revenue would be utilized for bond debt service.

 

Despite numerous and repeated media reports to the contrary, and an emphasis from some bond proponents that “polluters must pay”, none of the money generated from the proposed 15¢/pound toxic release inventory tax would be used to finance the Governor’s environmental bond.  This revenue would be directed to a separate environmental program known as the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

 

Senate Republicans expect to unveil legislation that would replenish the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund in the coming weeks.