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Harrisburg: What They Didn't Do On Their Summer Vacation
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With the Senate returning to voting session September 19 and the House September 26, it will be back to business on a whole range of issues that didn't get done before the summer break. Here's a sampling of what's in store for the Fall-- -- Marcellus Shale: With the July 22 report of the Governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission now on the books, complete with recommendations for 30 or more changes in state law and at least a dozen impact fee or severance tax proposals from both Republicans and Democrats still waiting, the General Assembly will have its work cut out for it.
Gov. Corbett has not yet said which recommendations he agrees with from the report, but has said that forced pooling to require landowners without natural gas leases to allow their resources to be taken with compensation but without a lease is a non-starter.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Corbett said he would have his own version of a drilling impact fee ready in a week or two, but the focus of the fee would be to compensate communities for damage to roads, bridges and other negative impacts from drilling. The funds may also be used by the PA Emergency Management Agency for environmental cleanup from drilling.
Senate President Pro-Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) have both said regulatory changes will be a priority in the Fall. They also said they hope to work with the Governor to pass a version of an impact fee proposal he will sign into law.
After drilling for Marcellus Shale natural gas for eight years, will the General Assembly now decide to update the 1984 Oil and Gas Act? Stay tuned.
-- Transportation Funding: The Governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission issued its report in August outlining options for providing $2 to $2.5 billion worth of funding sources for the state's transportation infrastructure.
Among the proposals is eliminating the current cap on the Oil Franchise Tax that imposes a per gallon tax on vehicle fuels which may or may not violate Gov. Corbett's no tax increase pledge. Other recommendations would increase vehicle and driver license fees and increase the number of toll roads. Reacting to the report, Gov. Corbett said he is still reviewing the options and may consider others which do not raise taxes to meet his pledge.
-- Paying For Flood Damages: Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee roared through Pennsylvania causing hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage and at least seven deaths. It will also cause yet another budget problem for the Commonwealth because the state is responsible for paying 25 percent of at least the public infrastructure costs of Federal Disaster Assistance in the 27 counties declared a disaster area.
Look for more budget cuts in an already thin budget. And look for a flurry of spending bills to improve flood protection.
In fact, Senators John Gordner (R-Columbia), Gene Yaw (R-Bradford), Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne), John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) are holding a press conference on Monday to announce a flood relief package based on the 1996 flood package that included a large bond issue to pay for road and bridge repairs.
More Budget Cuts As State Pays 25% Share Of Federal Disaster Aid
NE PA Senators To Address Disaster Issues Senators Will Announce Flood Aid Package |
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9/19/2011 |
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