Several members of the Senate and House this week circulated memos this week seeking co-sponsors for a variety of environmental proposal--

Severance Tax: Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware) is seeking co-sponsors for the reintroduction of a 5 percent natural gas severance tax proposal that were included in last year’s House Bill 2510 and House Bill 2508 to provide funding for education- 32 percent, the Environmental Stewardship Fund- 29.6 percent, the Department of Health- 17.3 percent, General Fund- 16 percent, the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund- 4.3 percent and state dam removal- .8 percent.

Natural Gas Expansion And Conversions: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, is seeking co-sponsors for his two bill package to promote the use of natural gas through local utility pipeline extensions and fund the conversions of schools, hospitals and small businesses to natural gas that were included in Senate Bill 738 and Senate Bill 739 last session.  The bills passed the Senate, but died in the House.

12/29/2014