The Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA) and the Marcellus Shale Coalition released statements Tuesday expressing their opposition to Gov. Tom Wolf’s “Restore Pennsylvania” proposal.
“Pennsylvania’s energy opportunity is a catalyst for economic growth, more jobs, and revitalized communities throughout the whole commonwealth,” PMA President and CEO David N. Taylor said. “Governor Wolf’s proposal to borrow and bond $4.5 billion – to be repaid by consumers through a new, additional tax on energy production – is the very definition of a bad idea.”
Wolf announced plans Tuesday to renew his push for the “Restore Pennsylvania” proposal, a $4.5 billion infrastructure initiative that would invest in expanding high-speed internet access, improving storm preparedness and disaster recovery, redeveloping blighted areas, developing energy infrastructure and other areas. The initiative would be funded by a severance tax on natural gas drilling and borrowing.
In their statements, PMA and the Marcellus Shale Coalition cited concerns about the economic impacts of the initiative.
“Amid a sharp market downturn, Governor Wolf’s plan for additional energy taxes jeopardizes job-creating investment in Pennsylvania and will be a gut-punch to the hard-working employees, building trades union members and families who want to pay less for the energy they need, not more,” Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Spigelmyer said. “Pennsylvania’s existing tax on natural gas is on track to generate nearly $2 billion since 2012 – revenue that’s dedicated for communities to strengthen roads and bridges, improve parks and trails, flood mitigation, and emergency services, to name a few. Our industry is committed to working with Gov. Wolf – who we deeply respect – on policies that help grow jobs locally, attract investment to the Commonwealth, and keep Pennsylvania open for business.”
“We want to make it the smart business decision for businesses to locate, hire, and expand here in Pennsylvania, rather than in one of our competitor states. Our site selection ranking won’t improve if Pennsylvania stifles energy production, hinders industrial activity, hikes the cost of electricity, and borrows to subsidize political pet projects. The governor’s tax-and-debt plan will stick Pennsylvanians with a [$4.5 billion] tab and no one at the table to pay the bill.”
Wolf said Tuesday that Restore Pennsylvania is the only plan that has emerged in the Commonwealth that can provide the necessary funding for Pennsylvania’s infrastructure needs.
“Restore Pennsylvania would make $4.5 billion in critical infrastructure investments,” Wolf said. “It would repair rural roads, clean up brownfields, remove blight, increase broadband access, reduce flood risk, and so much more. There’s been a lot of talk over the last year about how much we need infrastructure funding, but no viable plan has emerged – except Restore Pennsylvania.”