Could Appropriations Chair Decision Delay Severance Tax For Another Year?

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican Appropriations Committee Chairman Mario Civera of Delaware County has altered his retirement plans, and now says he will stay through the next budget process. Civera's announcement means he could remain in office until at least June 30, 2010—the end of the 2009–2010 fiscal year. The word from Civera's office is that Civera was firmly against imposing any additional taxes in the most-recent budget cycle, and he is anticipated to maintain the same position through the upcoming budget cycle.

"He believes it's wrong not only to impose taxes on businesses in a bad economy but especially when they are start-up operations like they are in the Shale," according to a Civera office spokesman. The Marcellus Shale is a sedimentary rock formation that contains largely untapped natural gas reserves.