Public Opinion Online: “What exactly is it about this Pennsylvania Legislature that so inclines its members to lie down for special interests?
“First, it declined to enact a tax on natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale region. Other states halted gas drilling to conduct water table studies and otherwise imposed big taxes on operations — to realize a fair return from environmental and natural resource exploitation — but not Pennsylvania.
“We just let them run rampant, and agree to whatever tax rates industry lobbyists say they’d be willing to pay.
“Similarly, on Wednesday, the Legislature finally finished the state budget more than six months late by legalizing table gambling at state slots casinos. The bill raises $250 million to complete a half-elapsed budget plan that’s already running — wait for it — a $250 million deficit.
“Given that we’re already shaping up for another deficit crisis for next year’s budget, did we insist upon stiff licensing fees and a tax rate similar to the 55 percent tax on gross slots receipts?
“No. Instead, we gave them a 16 percent tax on table gambling that was more than halved from the original proposed rate of 34 percent. Furthermore, that rate will decrease to 14 percent after two years.
Another lost opportunity, but we suppose that’s what happens when business lobbyists write public policy…”
