LETTER: We Need Severance Tax For Fossil Fuel Companies

The following letter to the editor was written by Melissa Shusterman, candidate for state representative in the 157th district. Letters to the editor do not reflect the viewpoints of Patch or its employees. Patch welcomes letters to the editor from all political perspectives. To submit a letter, please email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Dear Editor,

Time and time again, Representative Kampf and House Republicans have voted on the side of fossil fuel companies and special interests instead of the people of Pennsylvania. They continually oppose a common- sense severance tax. Just today, Rep. Kampf voted to not even debate a severance tax!

What would PA Republicans like Rep. Kampf rather do than pass a severance tax, which every other major oil/natural gas producing state has? They would rather tax our cellphone and gas bills. They would rather raise the hotel tax. They would rather borrow close to $2 billion. None of these measures help put PA on a path to fiscal stability. Instead, they hurt PA’s credit rating, increase debt, and hurt Pennsylvania families.

Pennsylvania’s constitution says that our “public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.” We deserve a severance tax in return for what fossil fuel companies are doing to our state’s environment. A reasonable severance tax would be fair for
Pennsylvania and help fix our budget crisis. I’m running for State Representative in the 157th district because I’m tired of all the nonsense in Harrisburg. I would vote for a severance tax, not for more taxes on Pennsylvania families. I wouldn’t support borrowing billions of dollars against our state’s future. Those kind of measures are ridiculous. We need more common sense in Harrisburg.

Melissa Shusterman

Candidate for state representative in the 157th District

Patch file photo