Acristickid
Well-known member
Find it funny when folks blame the governor for not imposing a tax- last time I checked the state senate was entity that could'nt get it passed. Anyways- here a bone for the commonwealth.
From Today Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
HARRISBURG -- With Gov. Tom Corbett indicating he could support an impact fee on natural gas drillers, the burden now is on lawmakers to put together a plan.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the governor, who opposes a state-level tax on natural gas drilling, echoed previous statements from his staff that an impact fee that aids local governments is something he would consider.
"I would have to see what they would propose, and where the money would go," Mr. Corbett said. "Money just to the general fund? No. Money to the locals, money to the county? I'd sit down and listen to them."
Senate Republicans have been discussing an impact fee since talks on a severance tax fell apart last fall. They are in the process of crafting legislation that would determine how such a fee would work and where the money would go, said Drew Crompton, a top aide to Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson.
Mr. Scarnati has said he would prefer a method that would keep "the lion's share" of the funding for local governments, which he says are dealing with strains to their infrastructure, government services, and emergency response systems.
The senator also supports setting aside some funding for environmental programs like Growing Greener, as well as boosting safety regulations on the industry.
Mr. Corbett said alleviating impact on communities should be a topic of discussion for his new Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, who will lead that commission, previously had ruled out taxes and fees as agenda items.
"I understand there is an impact to the local communities, and I believe in some way, shape or form, we need to address that impact to the communities," Mr. Corbett said.
House Republicans, including Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, have said they oppose placing any new taxes or fees on gas drillers.
But Democrats and environmental advocates say they'll keep pushing for a state-level severance tax, which they believe should help pay for Pennsylvania's environmental oversight programs.
Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, described the governor's comments "a baby step in the right direction." He supports enacting a tax that would dedicate some funding for the Environmental Protection and the Conservation and Natural Resources departments.
"I completely disagree with him that it should just benefit local communities," Mr. Frankel said. "Every other state with significant gas drilling has an extraction tax. It can be done in a reasonable way."
There also will be pressure from some lawmakers to move quickly on providing communities with funding. Companies have paid to revamp many ancient rural roads, but communities also are facing rising costs from needing additional staff for records offices and other services.
Mr. Crompton said the Senate GOP hopes to finish crafting its impact fee plan "within weeks." That plan will look "significantly different" than the tax plans debated last session, he added.
"[Sen. Scarnati] believes it's important to work on this -- he's not comfortable waiting for the next few months and being in a holding pattern" while the commission works on its report, Mr. Crompton said. "That doesn't mean we can't incorporate our work with the commission's."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11083/1134384-28.stm#ixzz1HWS9EBQS
From Today Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
HARRISBURG -- With Gov. Tom Corbett indicating he could support an impact fee on natural gas drillers, the burden now is on lawmakers to put together a plan.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the governor, who opposes a state-level tax on natural gas drilling, echoed previous statements from his staff that an impact fee that aids local governments is something he would consider.
"I would have to see what they would propose, and where the money would go," Mr. Corbett said. "Money just to the general fund? No. Money to the locals, money to the county? I'd sit down and listen to them."
Senate Republicans have been discussing an impact fee since talks on a severance tax fell apart last fall. They are in the process of crafting legislation that would determine how such a fee would work and where the money would go, said Drew Crompton, a top aide to Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson.
Mr. Scarnati has said he would prefer a method that would keep "the lion's share" of the funding for local governments, which he says are dealing with strains to their infrastructure, government services, and emergency response systems.
The senator also supports setting aside some funding for environmental programs like Growing Greener, as well as boosting safety regulations on the industry.
Mr. Corbett said alleviating impact on communities should be a topic of discussion for his new Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, who will lead that commission, previously had ruled out taxes and fees as agenda items.
"I understand there is an impact to the local communities, and I believe in some way, shape or form, we need to address that impact to the communities," Mr. Corbett said.
House Republicans, including Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, have said they oppose placing any new taxes or fees on gas drillers.
But Democrats and environmental advocates say they'll keep pushing for a state-level severance tax, which they believe should help pay for Pennsylvania's environmental oversight programs.
Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, described the governor's comments "a baby step in the right direction." He supports enacting a tax that would dedicate some funding for the Environmental Protection and the Conservation and Natural Resources departments.
"I completely disagree with him that it should just benefit local communities," Mr. Frankel said. "Every other state with significant gas drilling has an extraction tax. It can be done in a reasonable way."
There also will be pressure from some lawmakers to move quickly on providing communities with funding. Companies have paid to revamp many ancient rural roads, but communities also are facing rising costs from needing additional staff for records offices and other services.
Mr. Crompton said the Senate GOP hopes to finish crafting its impact fee plan "within weeks." That plan will look "significantly different" than the tax plans debated last session, he added.
"[Sen. Scarnati] believes it's important to work on this -- he's not comfortable waiting for the next few months and being in a holding pattern" while the commission works on its report, Mr. Crompton said. "That doesn't mean we can't incorporate our work with the commission's."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11083/1134384-28.stm#ixzz1HWS9EBQS
