Philly’s Proposed Plastic Bag Ban Could Get Derailed After Last-Minute Budget Move by GOP Lawmakers

But by adding it as an amendment to the fiscal code, which must be approved for the state to enact its spending plan for next year, its backers essentially ensured its passage. Gov. Tom Wolf cannot veto the plastics language without rejecting the entire code, which would derail a $34 billion budget deal the Democrat spent weeks negotiating with the Republican-controlled legislature.

J.J. Abbott, Wolf’s spokesperson, would say only that Wolf was expected to “take action on a variety of budget bills tonight.”

“We will look at everything,” said Abbott.

It also puts on hold plans for such a ban in Philadelphia. City Councilman Mark Squilla, who introduced the bill this month to ban plastic bags in the city and impose a 15-cent fee on single-use paper bags, called the maneuver an unfair power grab by state officials over a local issue. “Honestly, I think it’s a disgrace to be able to have the ability to go in there and usurp local municipalities for what they believe would benefit their local interests,” Squilla said. “It’s a slippery slope of total control over the local.”

City Council members have tried to pass bag bans in the past, including Squilla and his predecessor, Frank DiCicco. Conversely, state lawmakers have tried and failed to prohibit local governments from banning single-use plastic bags, including an attempt in 2017 by former State Rep. Mike Hanna (D., Clinton).

Corman said he wanted the state to study the impact because any bag ban or tax outside of Philadelphia is likely to prompt a lawsuit over the legality of the ordinance. State law, however, gives Philly greater latitude to pass local taxes. “It’s going to end up in court one way or the other, and I thought, let’s do a pause and do a study,” he said.

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