House Marcellus bill warms drillers’ hearts & fills their pockets

HB 1950 leaves Pennsylvania’s families, communities, and businesses out in the cold

           (Press Release by PennFuture, Harrisburg, PA – November 17, 2011) – Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) called today’s action by the Pennsylvania House passing HB 1950 a major gift to the multi-national drilling industry. The impact fee with an effective tax rate of only 1 percent is a slap in the face to Pennsylvania taxpayers. The bill, authored in the governor’s office and championed by House Republican leadership, passed by a largely party line vote.

          “The bill falls woefully short in terms of PennFuture’s criteria for supporting the bill,” said PennFuture President and CEO Jan Jarrett. “It fails to impose a fair impact fee or drilling tax compared to other states. It fails to make significant investments in host communities, natural resources, and human capital to ensure that every citizen of the Commonwealth benefits from deep gas drilling. It fails in creating world-class drilling standards that allow the industry to thrive without posing unacceptable risks to communities and our environment. It fails to allow local governments to meaningfully protect their citizens from drilling near homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.

          “There are some good provisions in this bill, including providing some revenue to the Environmental Stewardship Fund, but the bill held improved environmental regulations and funding for environmental programs hostage in return for an embarrassingly low impact fee,” continued Jarrett. “Worse, the fee may vary from county to county, and it takes away the ability of local governments to manage the impact of drilling through local ordinances. Pennsylvanians want – and deserve – better.

          “Unfortunately, amendments from both Republicans and Democrats (and which had strong bipartisan support) that could have substantially improved the bill were blocked from being considered by the House leadership,” continued Jarrett. “But the House GOP leadership essentially took a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to this bill, and used parliamentary maneuvers to keep provisions that had widespread support from being called up for a vote.

          “The Senate bill passed earlier this week is also a very bad bill,” said Jarrett. “Now the final result will be decided behind closed doors and given where the negotiations are starting, Pennsylvania taxpayers cannot reasonably expect that their interests will be considered above the gas drillers.”

          “We urge all legislators of good will to represent the wishes and rights of their constituents – not their campaign financiers – and vote against any final bill unless it is substantially improved,” said Jarrett.

           PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state’s environment and economy. With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Wilkes-Barre, PennFuture’s activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state, and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education, and assisting citizens in public advocacy.