Monday, September 11, 2017

Slight Changes To House GOP Raid On Special Funds Don’t Address Key Faults; Grove Amendment Makes Things Worse

According to a revised summary by House Democrat Appropriations staff, House Bill 593 -- a Fiscal Code bill now on the House Calendar-- will be the vehicle for offering one or both of two amendments-- Moul A03286 (itemizes the fund transfers) and Grove A03263 (actually redirects fees, like all fees under Act 101, and assessments to the General Fund).
These are CHANGES to the transfers from special funds announced by Rep. Moul last week.  All other proposed transfer stand--
-- Cut to Recycling Fund $104 million instead of $75 million;
-- Cut to Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund $100,000 instead of $100 million;
-- Cut to Industrial Sites Environmental Assessment Fund of $10.5 million instead of $7.5 million;
-- Stipulates the $100 million transfer from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund is a loan payable with interest by July 1, 2029, along with an additional $100,000 transfer; and
-- New transfer: Water and Sewer Systems Assistance bond Fund $880,000
The complete revised Moul proposal takes $120 million instead of $14 million from the Tobacco Settlement Fund and $75 million instead of $12 million from Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Fund
Click Here for the full, revised summary.
Grove Amendment Makes Things Worse
The amendment by Rep. Grove would also redirect existing fees and assessments to the General Fund from this year forward--
-- Act 101 Recycling Fees;
-- Fees Fines and interest collected by the State Conservation Commission related to nutrient management and order management and the proceeds of any bonds made available to the Commission;
-- Money from the Realty Transfer Tax going to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund; and
-- Moneys deposited into the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.
The bottom line is nothing in the revised amendments posted by Representatives Moul and Grove make the House Republican proposal any better for environmental and energy programs.
At this writing, House Republicans are still in Caucus discussing how to proceed.
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