Harrisburg, PA – Yesterday, a vote to delay Pennsylvania’s entrance into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) failed in the Pennsylvania State Senate with opposition from nearly every Democrat. Governor Tom Wolf unilaterally decided to have Pennsylvania enter RGGI last year. RGGI includes a regulatory carbon tax that would kill thousands of good-paying jobs and raise utility bills for families across the Commonwealth.
Last week, the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) estimated that RGGI would increase consumer electricity costs by nearly $800 million. This increase could subject Pennsylvania families to electricity rates skyrocketing by as much as 30 percent. This regressive tax would especially crush lower income and fixed income seniors at a time when inflation is already running rampant.
“Once again, the Democratic Party has sided with far-left special interests and lame duck Tom Wolf in order to salvage his carbon tax plan (RGGI),” PA SRCC Cycle Chair Dave Argall said. “Senate Democrats could have stood with Pennsylvania families and consumers who are already seeing their pocketbooks stretched thin due to failed economic policies in Washington D.C. Delaying RGGI is commonsense, but Democrats still can’t shake off their environmental special interests’ groups that think we can continue to pay more and get less,” Senator Argall continued.
“Governor Wolf has failed to deliver many victories for the people of Pennsylvania over the past 7 years. So now, as an unpopular lame duck he is trying to unilaterally implement an unpopular tax plan,” PA SRCC Executive Director Cody Harbaugh stated. “By allowing us to join RGGI without the consent of elected legislators, Senate Democrats are once again shirking their responsibilities, and Pennsylvania taxpayers are paying the price.”