Corbett "considering" tax on frackers to help balance the budget. Yeah, sure.

[femmocrat]

HARRISBURG — After years of opposition, the Corbett administration said for the first time on Tuesday that the governor will not preclude a Marcellus shale tax as part of a budget solution to close a $1.4 billion deficit.
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett stressed during a news conference that he would consider new revenue only once the Legislature sends him legislation to curb spiraling pension costs from a $50 billion unfunded liability.
“I'm not ruling out a severance tax. You didn't hear me rule out a severance tax,” state Budget Secretary Charles Zogby told reporters after the news conference.


Read more: http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6298816-74/tax-corbett-state#ixzz35V7xvvLP

[Curmudgeoness]

1. He has few choices.

That is one huge deficit that he has to close, and with the GOP in charge of everything in PA, that is where the fault will lie if they go after raising other taxes while letting the drillers go with nothing.

[femmocrat]

2. For sure. Some fear cuts to the Keystone Fund:

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10745686

Yet, I believe Corbett is planning to increase education funding to curry favor with the voters.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. We will see.

There is a long way to go before they have a balanced budget. Sadly, they are looking at all the social programs for cuts and still think they can cut the business taxes.

So many ways to get to a balanced budget, and they don't have the guts to do any of it....closing the Delaware loophole, severance tax on gas/oil, and OMG, cut the costs of the legislature.

[Pat Riot]

4. promises, promises.

Keeping them is another story. Also notice he's planning to hold pension hostage in exchange for this deal.