Now is the Time to Come Together: Where There is a Will, There is a Way On Severance Tax

Today, Andrew Heath, Executive Director of the Renew Growing Greener Coalition, called on the Senate leadership to follow through on their promise of passing a severance tax before adjourning this week.
The Renew Growing Greener Coalition has been advocating for substantial revenue from a severance tax to be allocated to the Environmental Stewardship Fund and Renewing Growing Greener.
Growing Greener has transformed Pennsylvania by empowering communities, non-profit groups and citizens to protect working farms and special places, clean up rivers and streams, create and improve parks and trails, and revitalize cities and towns.
A recent Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report shows that Growing Greener is running out of money. “We cannot allow the depletion of the Growing Greener funds to occur,” said Heath. “If it does, the consequences will be felt across the entire state and for many years to come.”
Heath stated, “A month ago I said, „Our policy makers must make passing a severance tax their highest priority.‟ Now, the urgency is even greater. The Renew Growing Greener Coalition urges the General Assembly and Governor to enact a severance tax and invest a substantial part of the revenues in our natural resources thus enhancing the quality of life of our communities.”
“The Senate, House and Governor have a responsibility to follow through on their commitment to adopt a severance tax. Now is the time to take politics out of this discussion and focus on protecting Pennsylvania‟s most treasured places.”
“Where there is a will, there is a way. We have all been in Harrisburg long enough to know that anything is possible – there is no time for excuses, name calling or political posturing. Now is the time to come together. Now is the time to stand up for Pennsylvania, to stand up for the environment, and to stand up for our future by taking the first step to Renewing Growing Greener through passage of a fair and reasonable severance tax. If a severance tax is not adopted this week, it will not matter who is to blame because we will all lose.”