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API-PA: Tax hike on energy would damage Pennsylvania economy

Harrisburg, Pa., February 11, 2015 ─ The governor’s proposal for a new severance tax on natural gas development in Pennsylvania will harm job growth and weaken the state’s economy, said Stephanie Catarino Wissman, executive director of Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania (API-PA).

“The governor’s proposed tax hike could threaten the future of our state’s best job creators,” said Wissman. “The current local impact tax, which is collected from every shale drilling site in the state, has distributed more than $630 million to communities since 2012 -- including more than $224 million in just 2014. That’s on top of over $2.1 billion in state and local taxes generated by the energy industry. Driving development away from Pennsylvania will ultimately cost jobs and lead to less revenue for education, transportation, healthcare, and other state programs. The governor needs to look for better budget solutions that will keep the Commonwealth competitive, protect long-term economic growth, and preserve the engine of Pennsylvania job creation.”

API-PA is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.