Southwestern PA Lawmakers to Wolf: Severance Tax Would Slow COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts, Jobs

January 29, 2021

HARRISBURG – A group of southwestern Pennsylvania lawmakers today issued a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf warning that his latest proposal to enact a severance tax on the natural gas industry would endanger critical pandemic recovery efforts and kill jobs.

The legislators cite the use of natural gas in COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution, as well as in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other hospital equipment. 

“The governor has made clear today that he still does not understand the supply chain and the key role the natural gas industry plays in pandemic recovery efforts. Taxing an industry that his administration deemed ‘essential’ and sending that money to be collected and distributed by Harrisburg bureaucrats is a surefire way to slow recovery efforts and threaten more people’s livelihoods,” the lawmakers said. 

The letter was signed by Reps. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette), Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland), George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland), Matthew Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset), Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Jim Marshall (R-Beaver/Butler), Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny), Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford), Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington), Lori Mizgorski (R-Allegheny), Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland), Timothy O’Neal (R-Washington), Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), Michael Puskaric (R-Allegheny/Washington), Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset), Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria), Jason Silvis (R-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana), James Struzzi (R-Indiana) and Ryan Warner (R-Fayette/Westmoreland).

Full text of the letter is attached and online at RepKail.com.


Representative Joshua Kail
15th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact:  Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
RepKail.com / Facebook.com/RepKail