Representatives should stand against House Bill 1100

As someone who regularly cleans up trash along the streets of Philadelphia, I am confident that we should not be investing more money into the production of plastics. I feel compelled to respond to the Feb. 13 oped “Risk Vs. Profits” by State Rep. Sara Innamorato. This op-ed resonates with my anger about House Bill 1100.

H.B. 1100 provides $800 million in tax credits for petrochemical-related building projects like fracking-to-plastics plants in Pennsylvania. According to the op-ed, Pennsylvania’s Department of Revenue estimates this will cost the public about $22 million in public dollars for each plant, each year until 2050. Not only does petrochemical manufacturing contribute largely to climate change, but it also is responsible for massive amounts of toxic air and water pollution, linked to a number of serious health conditions.

The bill suggests that despite these harmful implications, the industry should be subsidized more, largely to produce plastic. We do not need more plastic. What we need are solutions for reusing the plastic that already exists, not more pollution. We should not spend taxpayer dollars saving this industry money.

Being only 22 years old, I am extremely disheartened by the lack of regard for my future. Industries need to be held accountable, not rewarded for the damage they do to our health and our natural resources. The passing of H.B. 1100 would be disastrous and a dishonorable waste of our taxpayer dollars. Pennsylvania state representatives should stand with Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed veto. JESSICA HARRINGTON

Philadelphia