DeLissio: Marcellus Shale Legislation A Joke

State Rep. Pam DeLissio, D-194, called the new Marcellus Shale legislation, comical. 

"In a word, HB 1950, is a joke, but I'm not laughing," the state rep said in a press release.

The bill, the release continued, ws brought up for debate in the House on Monday and would legislate an impact fee and not a severance tax. The effective rate of the fee would be about one percent and would be a per-well fee rather than based on the volume of gas produced.

"As I mentioned at our October Town hall meetings, my concern is that we would leave money on the table," she stated in the release.

Following its discussion, more than 200 amendments have been introduced to the legislation and while the state rep stated that she believed are worth discussing because they attempt to raise the effective rate of the impact fee and deal with a myriad of issues.

On Tuesday, many amendments were found to be unconstitutional – a procedural move with no basis in fact and with the goal of preserving the underlying bill that the Governor supports," the release continued.

"The shenanigans are mind-boggling given the seriousness of this subject – environmental issues are at stake, future revenue is being compromised and local municipalities' rights to govern is being threatened," DeLissio said in the release.

The state rep said she urges constituents to follow the issue closely and contact the Speaker and the Majority Floor Leader and demand that "over the top" procedural moves have no place in our democratic process.