House begins debating natural gas severance tax

Katie Meyer

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Katie Meyer was WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief from 2016-2020. While at WITF, she covered all things state politics for public radio stations throughout Pennsylvania. Katie came to Harrisburg by way of New York City, where she worked at Fordham University’s public radio station, WFUV, as an anchor, general assignment reporter, and co-host of an original podcast. A 2016 graduate of Fordham, she earned several awards for her work at WFUV, including four 2016 Gracies.

Katie is a native New Yorker, though she originally hails from Troy, a little farther up the Hudson River. She can attest that the bagels are still pretty good there.

WITF's Capitol Bureau Chief Desk is partially funded through generous gifts made in the memory of Tony May through the Anthony J. May Memorial Fund.

For more information about Tony May, click here.

November 21, 2017 | 12:22 PM

Kimberly Paynter / Newsworks

Many of the amendments filed to the severance tax bill would make it easier for natural gas drillers to get environmental permits.

(Harrisburg) — House lawmakers have begun moving a natural gas severance tax through their chamber.

It’s major priority for Democrats, who have been trying unsuccessfully to pass one for a decade.

But it’s slow going–the bill is saddled with well over 300 amendments.

Along with Democrats, the tax is championed by a coalition of moderate, largely southeastern Republicans.

Update Nov. 22: As lawmakers leave for holiday, fate of severance tax unclear

GOP Representative Kate Harper, of Montgomery County, is one of the most vocal advocates.

“Members,” Harper told colleagues in her floor testimony, “we’re broke. We just passed a budget that borrowed over $1.5 billion for operating funds.”

The bill is projected to raise around $100 million a year

Lawmakers spent several hours debating amendments. They only managed to get through a handful before running out the clock.

But the ones that passed would make significant changes to speed up the state’s environmental permitting process–something the natural gas industry favors.

Debate is expected to resume Tuesday.