May. 08, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) recently sat down for a brief discussion about her legislation to impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
Harper is proposing a severance tax rate of 3.5 percent of the gross value of units severed at the wellhead, which is competitive with nearby shale drilling states. It is estimated the tax would generate more than $400 million annually.
The revenue generated by the tax would go toward one of the biggest fiscal challenges facing the Commonwealth today – public school employee pension costs. The Public School Employees’ Retirement System currently has an unfunded liability that exceeds $32 billion.
House Bill 82 has been referred to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee for consideration.
Representative Kate Harper
61st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rep. Harper’s Blue Bell Office
610.277.3230
www.KateHarper.net / wwww.Facebook.com/RepKateHarper
kharper@pahousegop.com