Key Republican Senator Says Gas Tax or Fee May be Needed to Approve a Budget

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20110428_ap_votesfordrillersfeebudgetcutsmaybelinked.html

"It will be difficult to find a majority of lawmakers to vote for deep state budget cuts if Pennsylvania does not also require companies drilling for Marcellus Shale natural gas to pay a tax or fee, the top state senator said Thursday.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati made the comments while describing details of a bill he is writing to collect money from companies that are part of the hot pursuit in Pennsylvania to drill wells on the Marcellus Shale formation, considered the nation's largest-known natural gas reservoir.

"I cannot see how we get a state budget done, with the cuts that are coming, without bringing in some dollars from this industry," said Scarnati, a Republican from Jefferson."