It’s almost amusing to hear Budget Secretary Charles Zogby
complaining about the state’s projected revenue shortfall in 2012. This is a situation totally constructed by
the Corbett Administration. While
running for Governor, Mr. Corbett signed Tea Party favorite Grover Norquist’s
pledge not to raise taxes under ANY circumstances. As a result, he will not propose a severance
tax on Marcellus Shale gas.
Pennsylvania is the only state with significant Marcellus
gas resources that does not impose a severance tax. Even oil and gas friendly states like Texas
and Louisiana have a severance tax. Imposing
a reasonable severance tax simply will not drive the drillers away, as long as
the tax is competitive with that imposed by other states.
The reason the situation is almost amusing, but not actually
so, is because of the impact Gov. Corbett’s genuflection to St. Grover is having
on the citizens of Pennsylvania. Our
schools will be underfunded and teachers will be laid off. Many low income Pennsylvanians will go
without health insurance due to the cancellation of adultBasic. The list goes on and on.
Most folks agree with the Corbett Administration that we
need to tighten our fiscal belts in these tough economic times. But, it defies logic to refuse to tax
Marcellus Shale gas when everyone else is doing so. One is forced to conclude that this
Administration must be in the pocket of the oil and gas interests.
Here’s a simple question for the Corbett Administration –
what is more important to you: blind
obedience to St. Grover or looking out for your constituents, the citizens of
the Keystone State. I guess we already
know the answer to that one.
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