Severance Tax Proposals So Far Offer Nothing For The Environment

None of the natural gas severance tax proposals introduced so far in the new legislative session or those announced have any additional funding for environmental programs.  Keep that in mind as groups and Gov. Wolf talk about the necessity to enact a severance tax.

In the FY 2015-16 legislative session, at least 12 natural gas severance tax proposals were introduced and only 1 had any additional funding for environmental programs-- House Bill 1363 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks).

Gov. Wolf’s proposed severance tax from last year had nothing for the environment and he is expected to propose another one on February 7.

Here’s the rundown so far this year--

-- House Bill 113 (Harper-R-Montgomery) adds a 3.5 percent natural gas production severance tax to the existing Act 13 drilling impact fee to fund pension obligations and rural State Police Protection (sponsor summary);

-- Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Mifflin) circulated co-sponsor memos on reintroducing two natural gas severance tax proposals, one to impose a 5 percent tax to support a new Natural Gas Energy Development Program and to advance the use of natural gas vehicles (prior House Bill 526) and a 10 percent tax to support the LIHEAP heating assistance program and property tax and rent rebates for seniors (prior House Bill 528);

-- Rep. James Santora (R-Delaware) circulated a co-sponsor memo imposing a 4 percent severance tax to fund a new Severance Tax Education Fund (prior House Bill 1743);

-- Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) circulated a co-sponsor memo imposing a 4 percent severance tax to fund pension obligations (prior House Bill 2103); and

-- Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks) circulated a co-sponsor memo imposing a 5 percent severance tax to fund pension obligations (prior Senate Bill 719).

NewsClip:

New Year, Another Round Of Natural Gas Severance Tax Proposals, Nothing For Environment