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For Immediate
Release
6/22/09
Senator White Protects Lease Holder Access to
State Parks
Will support measures to maintain operations, services
State Senator Don White (R-41) will introduce legislation this week to ensure
the Commonwealth honors leases allowing groups to use state park facilities in
the event of a stalemate over the state budget.
"Where I come from, a deal is a deal. When the Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources (DCNR) signs a lease with any group, it commits the
Commonwealth to allowing these groups access to the state parks," Senator White
said. "I find it extremely disturbing that the Department would even consider
reneging on these leases to promote the Governor's budget."
Senator White's legislation, Senate Bill 974, would preserve the rights of
any group with a valid lease to use a state park regardless of any decision by
the DCNR to close, restrict access to, or modify services at the facility.
"Youth organizations like the scouts and the State Police Camp Cadet program
hold leases with the DCNR to use state park facilities. My legislation will
provide stability and surety for those groups. They will be assured that their
arrangements to use the state park system will not be impacted now or into the
future," Senator White said. "Our state parks are owned by and intended for the
use of all citizens. Neither they nor the individuals and groups that enjoy them
should be used as pawns to promote a political agenda."
DCNR Acting Secretary John Quigley recently submitted a letter containing a
list of 50 potential state parks to be evaluated for closing as part of the
impasse over the state budget.
The Senate is expected to consider legislation later this week that would
ensure that funding for services at state parks is not reduced as a result of
budget constraints, Senator White said.
The measures, introduced by Senator Mary Jo White, chair of the Senate
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, would permit the DCNR to use funds
from the Environmental Stewardship/Growing Greener Fund (Senate Bill 962) and
Key '93 realty transfer tax revenue (Senate Bill 963) for the continued
operation and maintenance of Pennsylvania's 117 state parks.
"Essentially, these bills will not require any transfer of funding to state
parks, but rather provides options to the Administration that will allow
Pennsylvania's state park system to remains regardless of the budget situation,"
Senator Don White said. "I support this effort and will be voting for these
bills when they come before the Senate for a final vote."
Contact:
Joe Pittman
(717) 787-8724
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