Keep Promise Tour Reminds Legislators Of Commitment To Adopt Marcellus Shale Tax

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future today announced it is launching the “Keep the Promise Tour” across Pennsylvania to make sure the General Assembly keeps its promise to pass a Marcellus Shale natural gas production tax by October 1.
“A poll taken last week shows that nearly everyone in the state agrees on one thing: the Marcellus Shale drillers must pay their fair share,” said Jan Jarrett, president and CEO of PennFuture. “The drilling companies are spending enormous amounts of money to stop the severance tax. They have hired lobbyists of every stripe – including former Governor Tom Ridge – and are working hard to keep the voice of the people from being heard.
"The drillers will make enormous profits from the natural gas they take from our land – it's only fair that they pay a reasonable tax that will go to protect our environment and local communities that "host" the drilling, fund our natural resource agencies, and help balance our budget.
“A poll taken last week shows that nearly everyone in the state agrees on one thing: the Marcellus Shale drillers must pay their fair share,” continued Jarrett. “Three out of four voters in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia want the legislature to pass a severance tax. The support is even stronger in rural areas, with 84 percent supporting the tax. Three out of four Republicans support the tax, and 79 percent of Democrats want the tax passed. But we need to make sure that the sheer number of lobbyists and available campaign cash from the drillers don’t blind the legislators to the wishes of their constituents and the good of the Commonwealth.”
Tour Schedule
-- September 8 - Breakfast in South Hills (Pittsburgh), Allegheny County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 9 - Town Hall in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County 7:00-9:00 p.m.;
-- September 10 - Breakfast in Scranton, Lackawanna County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 13 - Breakfast in Gettysburg, Adams County 8:00-10:00 a.m.;
-- September 16 - Breakfast in Horsham, Montgomery County 8:00-10:00 a.m.; and
-- September 17 - Breakfast in Essington/Tinicum, Delaware County 8:00-10:00 a.m.
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There will be no onsite registration. Registration may be made online where a list of speakers and the details for each stop are available, or by telephone at 717-214-7920.