Gov. Tom Wolf has been traveling the state like a salesman pitching RestorePA, but his sales pitch glosses over how he will pay for it (“Wolf tours Greensburg blight, touts proposed gas severance tax,” June 6, TribLIVE). What consumers need to know is that this plan will be funded through new taxes on the gas industry.
The natural gas industry has led to economic growth for Pennsylvania, providing thousands of jobs and lowering energy costs for consumers. Through Act. 13, the gas industry pays an impact fee or tax. This is Pennsylvania’s severance tax, which has provided over $1 billion used by all 67 counties for local improvements.
Like any business in Pennsylvania, gas companies and their downstream companies pay onerous business taxes. Our business tax structure is one of the biggest problems in attracting businesses to Pennsylvania. Taxation has never in our history led to economic growth.
Imposing a second severance tax will lead to higher energy prices for consumers and also to the loss of jobs and economic growth in Pennsylvania. RestorePA will reverse our growth, and that is simply wrong.
Elaine Gowaty
Murrysville