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Report says natural gas industry gives big to Pa. politics
According to a Common Cause report "Deep Drilling, Deep Pockets," by Alex Kaplan and James Browning, released Tuesday, the natural gas industry donated $2.8 million to political candidates in the state from 2001 to 2010 and spent $4.2 million on lobbying since 2007. Contributions include those from 23 gas drilling companies with more than 2,400 well permits, two pipeline companies and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association.
Contributions to the top 25 recipients included $29,500 to Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, and $12,650 to Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville.
The top 10 donors are S.W. Jack Drilling, $1 million; East Resources, $427,500; Dominion, $323,800; CNX Gas, $270,800; Seneca Resources, $201,800; EQT, $192,700; Snyder Bros., $144,700; Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, $77,800; Chesapeake Energy, $58,400; and Range Resources, $52,300.
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Chesapeake had the highest number of well permits at 519; Range was second with 405; and East Resources was third at 283. S.W. Jack Drilling had no well permits.
Other campaign committees receiving lesser contributions were Reps. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg; David Levdansky, D-Elizabeth; John Maher, R-Peters Township; Jesse White, D-Cecil; and Peter Daley, D-California; Sens. John Pippy, R-Moon Township, and Richard Kasunic, D-Dunbar; Committee to Retain Judge Paul Pozonsky; and Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey. Former candidates Paul Snatchko and Greg Hopkins also had received contributions.
Other findings in the report include:
n Republican Tom Corbett, running for Pennsylvania governor, has received $361,207 from the industry with more than 90 percent of those contributions since January 2008. Democratic candidate Dan Onorato has received $59,300.
n Gov. Ed Rendell is No. 6 on the list of top recipients, receiving $84,100.
n The industry's lobbying effort has tripled in the last three years.
The report notes that Pennsylvania is one of 11 states that does not limit campaign contributions. It recommends contribution limits; a better system of disclosure; and more frequent disclosure. It also calls for a better online database of contributions.
The Marcellus Shale deposit is the largest natural gas deposit in North America with enough estimated reserves to serve the United States for the next decade. It is located under Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio.
Pennsylvania and New York are the only states that do not levy a severance tax on extracted gas. Other states use the tax to repair infrastructure, protect the environment and regulate drilling.
If a 6.2 percent tax were to be levied in Pennsylvania, it would generate $107 million. However, the report notes that the industry suggests such a tax could deprive the state of jobs and revenue at a time the country is emerging from a severe economic downturn.
The full report can be downloaded online at www.commoncause.org/pa.
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Home
: 5/13/2010
Isn't it obvious, pay polititians, get what you want.
Other Thought : 5/13/2010
The policiticans can take the money as along as it isn't pay to play. Or letting the industry write the laws and a policitican voting for it because of the money, or actively running their campaign. I think corporate cash should be given a monetary limit, instead the Supreme Court allows for more contribution money to come into elections.
Not surprising. : 5/13/2010
This really narrows the list of eligible candidates, doesn't it?
The report : 5/13/2010
Only has the list of incumbents. No new players? And where is the coal money? This is a great report but I don't think it covers everyone in the races.
So what! : 5/13/2010
Your poll today was interesting. How much did the unions give to each politician? How about coal, steel, medical centers, doctors, lawyers? This is another slanted story against industry.
enough tax! : 5/13/2010
Enough with the taxes already! When will people realize that companies don't pay taxes, consumers do. Moreover, taxing extracted gas is a violation of landowner rights. I own the gas beneath my feet, not the state. It says so in my deed. If the state were to privatize Penn Dot and put infrastructure maintenance up for competitive bid, we'd save over $100million a year.
Politicans Take $$$ To Keep Frac Solution Formula A Mystery : 5/13/2010
What's a few bucks to the guys who are in a position to allow gas companies to leave millions of dollars in damge behind? Since they get all this money, politicans allow Haliburton to keep the list of contents in frac solution. There is definately more than just water and sand in it.
Not that much money : 5/13/2010
I know it sounds like a sexy story but lets be honest, it's not that much money they're getting (at least for the local guys). 5 or 10 grand isnt going to do much. The governor candidates are another story IMO
the rest of the story... : 5/13/2010
I also would like to see the rest of the story showing the money given to the new players like Pam Snyder... by gas industry as well as coal companies, etc. PLEASE ... give us the rest of the story.
So What : 5/13/2010
Fracing is a dirty process that skirts the law thanks to Bush and Cheny, that's why it's a poll question.
gas wells etc . money! : 5/13/2010
sounds to me most of you are jealous no money for you ...... bet you would take it if offerd
reply 'enough tax!' : 5/13/2010
'I own the gas beneath my feet, not the state.' Ok! Stop paying your property taxes for a few years and we'll see 'who' owns the gas!
This Is News How? : 5/13/2010
Big business giving money to politicians? Every nook and cranny of politics is touched by big business' money. Find me a business or industry that DOESN'T. Now THAT would be news.
Blood Money : 5/13/2010
It makes me laugh that everyone blames this on the mines and polititians. Everyone overlooks how much money the land owners (WHO ALLOWED THE COMPANIES ON THEIR LAND) are making. Some are cashing in on millions a year through royalities depending on how much land they own. So if you want to complain, start with the overnight millionaires, they are in fact, your neighbors. Greed Rules and in the long run, we all loose. Soon, we will see unexplained health problems skyrocket and the ones who didn't sell their soles may have to hire Erin Brockovich.
More taxes! : 5/13/2010
I didn't see any mention of the income tax money from royalities! If you want a severance tax how about an income and property tax credit and don't collect taxes twice!
Just FYI North Strabane Residents : 5/13/2010
North Strabane Supervisor Greg Sulc recently took a job with Range Resources. Hmmm.
Crazy!! : 5/13/2010
All you people do is complain complain and complain...And im sure its all you people that drive up next to us and cuss at as with our children in the car to go back to where we came from or flip us off! as we drive by...
Excellent article on the politics of PA gas extraction : 5/14/2010
For an excellent overview of the politics involved in Pennsylvania’s natural gas rush, and the environmental damage that comes with it, check out “Gas Pains” in the current issue of Audubon Magazine at http://audubonmagazine.org/incite/incite1005.html. The drillers and frackers from out of state might then understand why some Pennsylvanians are enraged… “because the technology to extract the gas is younger than the 21st century, no one yet knows how to do it without simultaneously sacrificing the forests, waters, fish, and wildlife that, over time, are worth far more than any finite energy fix. That’s why New York State has placed a moratorium on Marcellus drilling while it struggles to devise effective regulations. And that’s why some officials in Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia are scrambling to get protections in place before the onslaught… One might suppose that Pennsylvania would proceed cautiously, with 4,600 miles of its streams already contaminated by abandoned mines to the point of becoming lifeless acid seeps and having allowed the timber industry to denude the entire state a century ago. But no…It’s not just native ecosystems that are being violated, it’s Pennsylvania’s constitution, which states: ‘The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.’”
As usual : 6/7/2010
Money talks.
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