House members Tuesday again came within one vote of considering legislation-- House Bill 1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks)-- imposing a severance tax, in addition to the Act 13 drilling impact fee, on natural gas production.

Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) made a motion to have the House resume debate on the bill as a “Special Order of Business” after all the other bills on the House Calendar were considered for the day.  The motion needed 101 votes to succeed.

In response, Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny), Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, made a motion to adjourn, which takes precedence.  Although the adjournment motion was supported by House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana), it failed by a vote of 94 to 98.

After some debate, Rep. Stephens’ motion to consider the severance tax bill failed by one vote-- 100 to 92.

House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) then went over the bill with no further action by the House on Tuesday or Wednesday.

On December 4 consideration of the severance tax bill survived a vote to refer it to the House Environmental Committee by one vote-- 93 to 94.

House Bill 1401 does not benefit any environmental restoration programs.

Rep. Maher told the House Environmental Committee at a meeting Tuesday he anticipates committee meetings in January and February on the issue of a severance tax, adding he believes House Bill 1401 may spend a few more months on the House Calendar.

He made it clear that consideration of the bill by the full House was not a good use of time and said he thought Committee consideration was more appropriate.

Rep. Maher said the severance tax meeting may be held in a part of the state where the issue will have the most impact.

The House and Senate return to kick off the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session on January 2, but get down to work the week of January 22.

(Based in part on reporting by Pennsylvania Legislative Services.)

NewsClips:

Haggerty Absence In Harrisburg May Have Prevented Gas Severance Debate

Editorial: Haggerty’s Absence Help Kill Severance Tax

[Posted: Dec. 14, 2017]

12/18/2017