HARRISBURG – Senate Republican leaders praised the Commonwealth Court today for preventing the Wolf Administration from moving forward with its unconstitutional entry into a multi-state carbon tax agreement that would hurt Pennsylvania’s economy.
The Wolf Administration is attempting to enter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through the regulatory process without the approval of the legislature. Every other participating state entered RGGI through the legislative process – not unilateral executive action. A bipartisan majority of legislators have consistently voted against RGGI when the issue has been brought to the floor for a vote.
Senate Republicans – including Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R-Bellefonte), Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) and Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Chair Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) – had previously requested a preliminary injunction to halt publication of the regulation during litigation. The request was granted, and a hearing was scheduled for May 4 on that request.
The court’s order prevents publication of the regulation during the interim, barring any further action of the court.
The Senators issued the following statement today:
“The governor’s attempt to unilaterally enter Pennsylvania into RGGI would put even more financial pressure on Pennsylvania families with increased electric bills at a time when they are already struggling due to inflation and the anti-energy policies of Governor Wolf and President Biden. We need an energy strategy that makes the best use of our natural resources and unleashes the full potential to our economy – not cripple it for the sake of political ideology.
“Governor Wolf’s approach on this issue runs contrary to the Constitution by attempting to usurp powers that are vested in the General Assembly. We cannot allow him to change the rules just because he may not like the outcome. We appreciate the court putting the brakes on this troubled policy until all of the legal issues can be considered on their merits.”
CONTACT: Jason Thompson (Corman)