An editorial “Able replacement for inept Sturla” states “ Whether it’s a severance tax on natural gas extraction from Macellus shale deposits….Sturla would tax Pennsylvania out of its financial mess…”
WATCHDOG: “The influential Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has taken a stand in favor of a severance tax, refuting claims that severance taxes will drive energy companies out of the state. In a research paper titled‘Natural Gas Industry Report Falsely Claims Sky Will Fall if Severance Tax Enacted,” the Center points to other studies showing that severance taxes have negligible impact on production.” – Yahoo.com. Why should Pennsylvanians give away to investors this great natural resource without a small tax, as do other states? The answer that it shouldn’t is obvious, but Republican legislators have been unwilling to forego the large political contributions and perks provided by lobbyists for Marcellus shall extractors.
But why is the New Era editorializing against such a tax when Lancaster County has absolutely no skin in the game and only stands to benefit.
In this matter it isn’t Sturla who is inept; it’s the editors of the New Era.
Unfortunately the editors of the New Era are unable to look beyond their own ultraconservative eyeballs, whether it benefits the community or not.
While I would typically have a hard time voting for taxes that come out of my pocket, in the case of Marcellus Shale, I believe it is prudent for Pennsylvania to gain something from those that stand to reap significant profits from a Pennsylvania resource.
I sure wish we had a local paper that was open-minded rather thn the pro-left Intell and the pro-right New Era. I’m surprised they can share anything (except of course their White Elephant accross the street….paid for with tax dollars naturally!!!!!!)
While it is important for the government to ensure the safety of other natural resources potenitally afected by the fracking process, which they appear to be doing by now having more than one inspector for every drilling site in the state, the need to add additional taxes on the extraction process is ridiculous. These gas drilling companies are really the only significant source of net new employment in the state and they pay significant fees and taxes related to employment and other taxes.
This resource beongs to the people under whose land it lies. It is not yours simply because you live in PA. Perhaps I should be able to get a piece of our business or gain something from your real estate. I mean, I live in Lancaster too.
Obviously the first poster in this thread is a typical socialist who wants to steal the fruits of others labor or good investments.