Meanwhile, Governor Corbett and the General Assembly refuse to pass a severance or drilling tax for Pennsylvania as is the case in every other major natural gas producing state. Instead, the Act 13 impact fee passed in 2012 translates to one of the lowest effective tax rates in the country, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table.
On Monday, June 2, the House Democratic Policy Committee will critically examine the leasing proposal at a public hearing entitled, "Drilling on Public Lands to Balance the Budget." The hearing is being organized by Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, minority chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. It will start at 10:00 a.m. in Room 418 Main Capitol.
Panelists at the hearing will include:
- John Quigley, former secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- John Childe, chief counsel, Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation
- John Norbeck, vice president and chief operating officer, PennFuture, and former director of the Bureau of State Parks
- Mark Szybist, staff attorney, PennFuture
Kudos to Rep. Vitali and Policy Committee Chair Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, for bringing attention to this critical issue that should greatly concern anyone who cares about the future of Penn's Woods.
The next six weeks before the passage of the budget around June 30 will be critical in the effort to prevent further leasing of our public lands. Citizen activism will be essential to blocking the Corbett proposal.
The next six weeks before the passage of the budget around June 30 will be critical in the effort to prevent further leasing of our public lands. Citizen activism will be essential to blocking the Corbett proposal.
Steve Stroman is policy director for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg.
