Gov. Tom Wolf outlined Wednesday in York how his Restore Pennsylvania plan will help the city and York County address blight.
Restore Pennsylvania is an infrastructure initiative that would focus on five priority infrastructure areas including high-speed internet access; storm preparedness and disaster recovery; downstream manufacturing, business development, and energy infrastructure; demolition, revitalization and renewal; and transportation capital projects.
“My vision for Pennsylvania includes vibrant towns and cities with new development, opportunities in rural and disadvantaged areas, and a modern, interconnected commonwealth,” said Governor Wolf. “So many communities deserve the infrastructure attention needed to create a bright economic future for residents and businesses. Unfortunately, after decades of neglect and declining federal investment, Pennsylvania is falling behind, and we need an aggressive plan to get us back on track.”
Restore Pennsylvania will invest $4.5 billion over the next four years in projects throughout the Commonwealth. The initiative will be funded by the monetization of a severance tax on natural gas drillers.
House Government Oversight Committee Chairman Seth Grove (R-Dover) issued a statement in response to the governor’s stop in York.
“While there are issues Gov. Wolf and I do agree on, and while I appreciate his trying to tackle some issues Pennsylvanians care about, a punitive tax on an industry and bonding revenues is not fiscally responsible, nor will it improve our economic climate,” Grove said. “I believe there is work to be done on rural broadband, flooding, and pipeline safety. However, punitive taxes and bonding is not a viable solution. I look forward to working with the governor to tackle the issues he is trying to address in a financially sound method.”