Legislators Target a Severance Tax - in Name Only

In the closing days of budget negotiations, Pennsylvania legislators claimed to pass a severance tax but merely renamed the existing natural gas impact fee. This deceptive gimmick would raise no new revenue while they simultaneously raided conservation funds and cut environmental protection agencies under the guise of balancing the budget.

Renaming an impact fee doesn’t solve the state’s fiscal problems—it’s like calling debt a surplus. Lawmakers need to enact a real severance tax and invest in environmental protection rather than resort to tricks that mislead the public.