November 18, 2011

Gas Industry Contributions Impact the PA Legislature

Harrisburg – This week’s passage of Marcellus tax bills SB 1100 and HB 1950 demonstrated the influence of drilling industry campaign contributions on Pennsylvania’s legislative process, as outlined in the data below.  These weak, inadequate bills fail to protect the health and safety of the people of Pennsylvania or to require this wealthy industry to pay its fair share for the good of the Commonwealth.

An analysis of data provided by MarcellusMoney.org suggests that these bills were designed not to protect Pennsylvanians, but to protect the profits of the gas drilling industry and the campaign contributions that reelect our lawmakers.   MarcellusMoney.org, a joint project of Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania tracks the more than $8 million that the natural gas industry has spent on campaign contributions and lobbying in the Commonwealth.

“The legislators that supported these bills sold out the people of Pennsylvania,” said Josh McNeil of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. “Citizens of the Commonwealth have a right to know what price the drilling industry paid to take precedence over public health, over the preservation of natural resources, and over our state’s fiscal security.”

SENATE BILL 1100

Senate Bill 1100 passed by a vote of 29 to 20:

• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Aye”:  $818,523
• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Nay”:  $115,200
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Aye”: $28,225
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Nay”: $5,760

Senator Tim Solobay, one of only two Democrats to vote in favor of final passage, received more gas industry money than any other elected official in his party.  He ranks fourth in gas contributions in the Senate, having accepted $48,825.  Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, the prime sponsor of SB 1100 accepted $293,333. Senator Don White accepted $89,150; Senator Jake Corman accepted $67,290.  Senators Solobay and White serve on the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.  Senator Corman is the Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

The Hughes Amendment – A6375 – designed to raise the fees on individual gas wells failed by a vote of 25 to 24.

• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Aye”:  $171,225
• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Nay”:  $762,498
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Aye”: $7,134
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Nay”: $30,500

The Furlo Amendment – A6387 – designed to remove the controversial local zoning preemption language in SB 1100 failed by a vote of 22 to 27.

• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Aye”:  $155,775
• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Nay”:  $777,948
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Aye”: $7,081
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Nay”: $28,813

The Stack Amendment – A6386 – designed to increase the bonding requirements for new wells failed by a vote of 20 to 29.

• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Aye”:  $127.175
• Total gas industry contributions to Senators voting ”Nay”:  $806,548
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Aye”: $6,359
• Average contributions to a Senator voting “Nay”: $27,812

HOUSE BILL 1950

In the House of Representatives, HB 1950 was considered without amendments. It passed by a vote of 107 to 76, with 20 members excused from voting.

• Total gas contributions to Representatives voting ”Aye”: $478,297
• Total gas contributions to Representatives voting ”Nay”: $263,975
• Average contributions to a Representative voting “Aye”: $4,470
• Average contributions to a Representative voting “Nay”: $3,473

The 22 sponsors of HB 1950, Representatives Ellis, S. H. Smith, Turzai, Saylor, Reed, Adolph, Major, Stevenson, Vereb, Ross, Grove, Marshall, Helm, Vulakovich, P. Costa, Gergeley, Oberlander, Readshaw, Moul, Christiana, Tallman and Everett accepted a total of $325,747, an average of $14,807. The House as a whole accepted $847,155, an average of $4,173 per representative.

From John Cole of the Scranton Times Tribune