After 3 Year Delay, Pa. Enacts One of the Lowest Gas Extraction Fees in the US

[JPZenger]

3 Years ago, the PA. Legislature agreed during budget negotiations that in the next couple months they would enact a natural gas extraction fee. At least $300 million in revenue was lost to the state in the 3 years it took to finally pass some sort of fee.

The Governor was pushing for a fee equal to only about 1% of revenues, with money only going to local governments in the affected area and with a complete prohibition of any local regulation of the entire gas industry. Fortunately, less reactionary minds prevailed and a bill was passed that is not so draconian. However, the fee only averages out to about 2% of revenues on the average. That is much much lower than most states with a fee or tax.

(Remember, Pa. was the ONLY state with a natural gas industry that did not charge an extraction fee or tax.)

Much more at this excellent link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/10/1063494/-Pa-Marcellus-Shale-Fee-Among-the-Lowest-in-the-Nation?via=stream

[JPZenger]

1. It took about as long to get a fee passed as it took Corbett to charge Sandusky.

It took Corbett almost 3 years to charge Sandusky with any crimes after his office was given full responsibility for the investigation. (Actually, his successor was the one who finally did a real investigation and filed the charges.) That is about the same amount of time it took his buddies who control the legislature to actually get a gas fee in place.

[Glassunion]

2. You know the guy is sick when even his fellow Republicans

are going against his grain.

I received a mailer from our Repub Rep for our district. She was blasting the state for the lack of taxation and DEP resources. I could not believe it.