Look at any chamber of commerce web site and you’ll see pretty pictures of people in parks, families enjoying the outdoors, meadows and perhaps a farm with contented horses or cows. Why? Because they know new businesses are looking for communities with outdoor features that will be appealing to their employees.

The Governor and members of the General Assembly say that they want new business and industry to settle in Pennsylvania and have set aside billions of dollars in NewPA, a state program to bring in new businesses. And yet, by the end of this week, funding for a program equally important to attracting new business may be drastically cut.
The Pennsylvania chapter of Republicans for Environmental Protection opposes PA Senate Bill 913 and any other proposals that will reduce the amount of funding available for crucial recreation, conservation, and other projects supported by the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.

The Keystone Fund has supported thousands of community park development projects including athletic fields, community centers, playgrounds and pools. Hundreds of miles of recreational trails have been built with Keystone funding.

Tens of thousands of acres of community open space, wildlife habitat, state forests and parks are forever protected and available for public enjoyment because of the Keystone Fund. Keystone has improved public access and facilities in our state parks and forests. It also has supported community library and museum projects.

There are other options for funding the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act program including increasing the waste tipping fee or funding HSCA out of the General Fund for one year while study of a permanent solution is explored. Other options are Representative Chris Ross’ amendment to HB 1206 would direct one-quarter mil of the capital stock-franchise tax to the hazardous sites program. This would be appropriate since the capital stock-franchise tax was an original revenue source for the HSCF. Upon expiration of the capital stock-franchise tax, 2.15 percent of the corporate net income tax would be directed to the HSCF.

Senator John Rafferty plans to introduce legislation to establish a returnable beverage container deposit program (a “bottle bill”). All unclaimed deposit money would be dedicated to funding HSCA.

Over the July 4th holiday, many Pennsylvania families enjoyed activities at our favorite park. Without the Keystone Fund, many of these treasured places wouldn’t be available. Please take action today – call your state legislator. They need to hear from you now. Speak up for parks, land conservation, libraries and keeping the Keystone Fund intact.