May. 28, 2020 / Press Release
HARRISBURG – An amendment introduced by Rep. John Hershey (R-Mifflin/Juniata/Franklin) to the state’s Fiscal Code bill would prohibit bans or taxes on single-use plastic bags in Pennsylvania until the end of Gov. Tom Wolf’s emergency declaration for COVID-19.
The amendment was attached to
House Bill 1083, which would become the Fiscal Code portion of the state budget. The Fiscal Code details how spending will be paid for.
Hershey said he introduced the amendment for two reasons. First, the 82nd District houses a major producer of plastic bags, providing hundreds of jobs for Juniata Valley residents. Second, public health officials have advised against using cloth bags while shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic because the virus may live on reusable canvas bags for days.
The legislation would nullify municipal bans or taxes on plastic bags.
“This provision has had bipartisan support in the past. This is an important issue not only for Juniata Valley families, but also for public health and safety,” Hershey said. “Under this legislation, my constituents are further protected from harmful taxes or bans that could threaten their very livelihood. Rural families should not have to worry whether a municipality, acting under the guise of ‘environmentalism,’ would take action to destroy their jobs and their livelihood.”
House Bill 1083 passed the House overwhelmingly and has already been passed by the Senate. It goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Representative John Hershey
82nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6335
jfitch@pahousegop.com
RepHershey.com /
Facebook.com/RepHershey