Politics PA

By Alex Roarty
PoliticsPA Staff Writer
roarty@politicspa.com

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel on Tuesday called for a five percent severance tax and increased environmental regulation for companies drilling in the state’s Marcellus Shale natural gas reserve, an aggressive stance on what might become one of the gubernatorial campaign’s defining issues.

The Montgomery County commissioner also took aim at the Republican frontrunner for governor, Tom Corbett, saying the attorney general’s plan for the gas reserves doesn’t do enough to protect the environment. Hoeffel said Corbett’s stance was a result of $5,250 in 4^th reporting cycle contributions he received from a PAC supported by the natural gas drilling company Range Resources, which operates in Pennsylvania. Corbett, according to campaign finance reports, was the first candidate to receive a donation from the group, and he also received a $5,000 contribution from the group in the 6^th reporting cycle.

“Tom Corbett calls for developing the state’s natural resources, such as the Marcellus Shale, while protecting the environment, but what’s his plan?” Hoeffel asked in a statement. “Could the absence of a plan to protect the environment have something to do with Tom receiving the first check from the Range Resources PAC?”

Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale reserves, which stretch across the state’s northern and western halves, are seen as a potential economic boon to the otherwise struggling region. Consequently the topic has already become a major issue on the campaign trail. Corbett has made it a centerpiece of his candidacy, as indicated by his campaign’s slogan, “Turn on the Power of Pennsylvania.”

The attorney general has said the state should hold off on taxing natural gas extraction to help the industry get off to a good start, which he said he hopes will create more jobs. As of press time, his campaign had not responded to question for comment from PoliticsPA.

The Hoeffel campaign’s decision to attack Corbett, not any of his four Democratic gubernatorial opponents, might raise eyebrows among some observers. Most analysts consider the southeast liberal to be in a difficult fight for the party’s nomination, with most insiders pointing to Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato as the primary’s early front-runner. It’s the second time Hoeffel has criticized Corbett while ignoring other candidates.

“Tom Corbett is the leading candidate and probably general election opponent,” Hoeffel campaign co-manager Lauren Townsend told PoliticsPA.  “He’s our target.”

Onorato also received a $5,000 contribution from the Range Resources PAC. When asked why the campaign went after Corbett instead of a Democratic rival, Townsend indicated the campaign is confident of its chances in the primary.

“We feel on the issues, Joe is very much in the line with the electorate,” she said, pointing to his stance on gay marriage, the environment and job creation.

Hoeffel is considered the gubernatorial choice of many social progressives, although Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox and Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty will try to fight him for that distinction. He also faces Auditor General Jack Wanger, who is more socially conservative.

Corbett isn’t the only Pennsylvania politician to think the natural gas reserve shouldn’t be immediately taxes: Governor Ed Rendell decided earlier this year to hold off on a levy for at least one year, despite the fact revenue gained from the tax could have helped the state plug its massive revenue shortfall.

Hoeffel also isn’t the only gubernatorial candidate supporting the tax. His opponent Tom Knox also unveiled Tuesday a plan that would raise $100 million annually from a shale tax, which would fluctuate between about 8 percent and 9 percent.

As part of his natural gas extraction tax plan, the Montgomery County commissioner also said he supports increased enforcement and regulatory powers for the Department of Environmental Protection, which he said is important to protect drinking water and wildlife areas near drilling. He added he wants a part of the extraction tax to be devoted to Growing Greener programs, which help clean up rivers and protect farmland.

Related Posts

1. PoliticsPA: Hoeffel asks why Corbett, Williams didn’t attend forum
2. PoliticsPA: Morganelli says Onorato supported Corbett in 2008; others disagree
3. PoliticsPA Reports: Corbett clear early front-runner from either party, according to poll
4. PoliticsPA: Onorato has $6.5 million on hand
5. PoliticsPA: Finance reports show Onorato clear front-runner

Tags: Dan Onorato, Joe Hoeffel, Tom Corbett

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 6:26 pm and is filed under PA Reports, PoliticsPA Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.