With lawmakers being one vote shy of overriding a veto from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, the Republican-controlled Senate failed to approve an attempt to block Pennsylvania from joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Monday.
After more than an hour of debate, lawmakers in the upper chamber voted 32-17, failing to meet the two-thirds requirement to block Wolf’s plan to enter the multi-state agreement, which requires that electricity generators pay for their carbon emissions.
For months, Republicans have argued that the plan is unconstitutional and accused Wolf of circumventing the legislative process by seeking regulatory approval from an independent review panel. Speaking on the Senate floor ahead of the vote, they also cautioned that RGGI will lead to higher electricity bills and shut down power plans — ultimately resulting in lost jobs.
Every GOP lawmaker supported the measure, joined by Allegheny County Democrats Sens. Jim Brewster, Lindsey Williams, and Wayne Fontana. Despite previous support for RGGI, Sen. John Yudichak, I-Luzerne, also supported the proposal.
“The fight against the RGGI carbon tax will continue in court,” Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said in a statement. “This could have been a slam-dunk, bipartisan effort for Pennsylvanians to override the governor’s unilateral decision for Pennsylvania to join RGGI.”
Pennsylvania’s entrance into the 11-state agreement could still see legal challenges, but if it’s not struck down, the regulation could take effect as early as July 1.
Locally, state Sen. Bob Mensch, who voted in favor of the veto override, said he believes energy costs are destined to increase dramatically and quickly.
“Gov. Wolf committed Pennsylvania to a plan that will send electric bills skyrocketing and destroy jobs, with almost no demonstrable environmental benefit, and did so without the assent of the people’s representatives in the General Assembly,” Mensch said. “By driving up energy costs, every good produced and every citizen will be affected. This was a reckless, short-sighted action that sets a horrible precedent.”
North Penn Now editor Keith Heffintrayer contributed to this report.
