Posts by chris lilienthal

Morning Must Reads: A Natural Gas Severance Tax This Year?

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on April 17, 2014 10:01 am
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Momentum is building to enact a natural gas severance tax in Pennsylvania. But don't take it from us.

The Triadvocate has an analysis of the debate that concludes an extraction tax is "almost a fait accompli."

A Look at Shale Drilling’s Mixed Legacy

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on April 10, 2014 4:48 pm
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Multi-State Shale Research CollaborativeNatural gas drilling has transformed two Pennsylvania counties with the greatest development activities, for better and for worse.

That statement in itself is not surprising, but two new studies from the Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative have a wealth of data on just how much these communities have been transformed. And some of the findings may surprise you.

Morning Must Reads: Don't Settle for 'Chump Change' with Gas Extraction Tax

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on April 2, 2014 10:55 am
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Two Pennsylvania newspaper editorials are making the case this week for enacting a severance tax on natural gas drilling, like most large energy-producing states have.

Morning Must Read: PA Senator Proposing 5% Natural Gas Severance Tax

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 27, 2014 10:06 am
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State Senator Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia will unveil a plan today to assess a 5% severance tax on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. He told the Philadelphia Daily News that his plan will generate more than $1 billion for education by 2020:

Pa.'s Shale Fee Very Low Compared to Other States

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 24, 2014 11:21 am
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Pennsylvania's fee on Marcellus Shale gas wells is the lowest among 11 states examined by the Independent Fiscal Office in a new study out last week.

As PBPC Research Director Michael Wood told The Philadelphia Inquirer, "this report highlights what we've said for a while: The impact fee is low compared to other states."

Read the Inquirer story for more.

Some Major Corporations Pay Little or Nothing in State Income Taxes

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 20, 2014 10:54 am
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What do Pennsylvania-based companies PPL, H.J. Heinz, Airgas, Allegheny Technologies, Hershey, and Comcast have in common? They each pay little or nothing in state income taxes, according to a new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) and Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ).

Education Advocates Make a Case for Philly School Funding

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 17, 2014 10:37 am
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Sharon Ward, PA Budget and Policy CenterA coalition of education advocates joined forces to call on Philadelphia City Council to provide $195 million in sustainable local funding to the city's school district next year.

At an event last Thursday when Council met, several speakers explained how much students have suffered from budget cuts in recent years and how city leaders must step up once again to provide needed funding for city schools.

“Philadelphia students, teachers, and staff cannot go through another year of upheaval and uncertainty,” said Sharon Ward of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, one of the advocates to participate Thursday.

Taking a Common Approach to Shale Taxation in OH, PA, WV

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 10, 2014 3:17 pm
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Although their state capitals are separated by hundreds of miles, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia are home to Marcellus Shale gas fields that in some cases are separated by only a few miles.

From that vantage point, advocates from the three states said it would make sense for Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia to take a common approach to taxing shale gas and oil drilling.

Study Finds Many Profitable Corporations Pay Little or No U.S. Income Taxes

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on February 27, 2014 2:31 pm
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One would think that all profitable Fortune 500 companies in the United States are paying some amount in federal income taxes. And one would be wrong.

Morning Must Reads: A Few Inconvenient Shale Truths

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on February 25, 2014 10:57 am
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For a long time, we've been making two points about natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. One, Pennsylvania's drilling impact fee brings in a fraction of what a severance tax comparable to those in other large energy-producing states would generate. And, two, the claims of job creation by the industry and its supporters (often used to cut off any talk of enacting a severance tax) are greatly overstated.

But don't take it from us. The Allentown Morning Call's Steve Esack has a pair of Sunday stories making the very same points.