Gov. Wolf’s veto could lead to plastic bag fees

Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday vetoed a bill that would have prohibited municipalities from banning or implementing a tax on single-use plastic bags, clearing the way for local laws aimed at reducing the number of plastic bags used at retail stores.

In 2015, Philadelphia City Council was the first municipality in the commonwealth to introduce legislation that would impose a fee on single-use plastic bags; and after the veto, the city could join Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C. and others in restricting plastic bag usage in some way.

Wolf’s veto came after the Pennsylvania House and Senate each voted to pass legislation barring municipalities from taxing or banning the use of lightweight plastic bags, which had support from both sides of the aisle.

“This legislation does considerably more than forbid political subdivisions from imposing a ban, fee, surcharge or tax on recyclable plastic bags provided to consumers,” Wolf said in his veto message to the state House. “It potentially thwarts local governments from complying with their trustee obligations under Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, to protect and preserve the environmental resources in their communities.”

Of the five state lawmakers that represent Centre County, Reps. Mike Hanna, D-Lock Haven; Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellfonte; Rich Irvin, R- Spruce Creek Township; and Sen. Jake Corman, R-Benner Township voted for the legislation.

“Not only does HB 1071 preserve consumer choice, it promotes good, family-sustaining jobs for hard working Pennsylvanians. Something we can and should all support,” Hanna said in Harrisburg last week.

During his speech, Hanna was joined by employees of Hilex Poly in Milesburg, a plastic bag manufacturing facility owned by Novolex, which is one of the largest plastic packaging producers in the country. Hilex Poly employees 160 people.

Following announcement of the veto, Corman said Wolf took a position against 1,500 people working in plastic bag manufacturing facilities around the state. He added that a plastic bag fee unnecessarily adds costs to trips to the grocery store.

Rep. Scott Conkiln, D-Rush Township, was the lone state lawmaker who represents Centre County to vote against the legislation and support the governor’s veto.

“A yes vote would have been to take away the control and the voice of local government and citizens on this issue,” Conklin said. “If a business wishes to promote usage of bag materials that are more environmentally friendly by putting a fee on plastic bags, then I believe that individual business should have that option.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2017 at 1:06 AM with the headline "Gov. Wolf’s veto could lead to plastic bag fees."