Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee

January 29, 2002

The Honorable Mark Schweiker
Governor of Pennsylvania
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Governor Schweiker:

We are writing on behalf of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to express our disappointment and opposition to the proposed delay of full funding for the Environmental Stewardship Fund. It is our understanding that $50 million from the Environmental Stewardship Fund authorization was placed in budgetary reserve to help offset the Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall.

We realize that difficult decisions must be made to ensure that Pennsylvania remains fiscally strong. However, this action directly contradicts the agreement between the Governor’s office and the General Assembly regarding Growing Greener.

When the final draft of Growing Greener was developed in December 1999, former Governor Ridge worked with the legislature to insert language that required the annual inclusion of $100 million in General Fund money in the Governor’s proposed budget for the life of the program. Implicit in this inclusion is that these funds will be spent in the manner directed by both the Governor and General Assembly.

As you may recall this legislation was the subject of intense negotiation. The primary obstacle throughout the debate on Growing Greener was whether to fund the program through an annual appropriation, dedicated funding or a bond issue. Proponents of the bond issue and dedicated funding wanted assurances that the funds promised for Growing Greener would be spent. We worked on behalf of the Governor’s office to assure these proponents that General Fund money would be appropriated and spent as promised and without qualification. These assurances were not meant for times of plenty, but rather to ensure that promises would be kept even in difficult times.

Governor Ridge’s letter to Senator Mellow, assuring full funding throughout the life of Growing Greener, was read into the Senate Journal. It refers to Growing Greener as a "shared commitment" of the Governor and General Assembly. We appreciate your intention to fulfill this obligation by extending the program into additional years, but current environmental restoration and protection projects are too important to be deferred or delayed. Communities and local organizations, which have seen a renewed sense of stewardship under Growing Greener, are counting on us to keep our commitment. We respectfully request that you reconsider this course of action.

Sincerely,

 

 

Mary Jo White, Chairman                                              Raphael Musto, Democratic Chairman