Good-government advocate expects shale tax in Pa.

    Recent polls show most Pennsylvanians support a fee or tax on natural-gas drillers in the Marcellus Shale formation.

     A good-government advocate says he believes lawmakers may pass a shale tax to satisfy their constituents just in time for the campaign season next year.

     Tim Potts of the nonpartisan Democracy Rising Pennsylvania said Tuesday an extraction impact fee or severance tax is inevitable.

     Just look at Alaska, Potts said. It collects $11 billion a year in leasing fees and extraction taxes.

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     “Well that’s more than a third of the Pennsylvania state budget in a state that has less than the population of Philadelphia,” said Potts. “More and more people are learning that we’re being played for chumps by not getting some money for the resources that we’re sending out of state.”

     Potts said the state’s tax revenue surplus, at more than $785 million, could have been a lot higher if there had been a natural-gas driller fee in place.

     The large Republican majority means GOP lawmakers will have full ownership of bills that pass and fail, said Potts. He said they will have to answer to voters if there’s no fee or tax in the works by next year’s elections.

     

     

     

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