Two weeks from today we have the opportunity granted by our forefathers to determine the direction our state and our country will be taking over the next years. In Pennsylvania, we have a sitting Governor in great danger of being Pennsylvania’s first governor to be denied a second term.

The choice for governor should be an easy one for any person in works in our industry or whose job depends on the continued growth of our industry in the Commonwealth. His opponent has been very open about his plans to seek a severance tax on oil and gas production. The resulting financial impact of additional taxes on production beyond the tax burden we already carry will definitely impact investment in gas development. Adding this burden to the burden of low natural gas prices we already face will result in far fewer wells drilled, leading to fewer jobs in our industry. This will add to the overall economic employment hardship the citizens of the Commonwealth already bear.

When will state government understand that bad policy destroys business and economic growth? The challenge to our industry’s survival is not limited to the governor’s race. Many in our General Assembly support a severance tax on gas production.

Tuesday, November 4, is your opportunity to act to prevent this assault on your industry and your job. I urge you to take time to cast your votes in support of our friends. Let’s send our industry’s opponents, not ourselves or our colleagues to the unemployment line. Get out to vote, get your friends out to vote and let everyone you know why this election is important.

Lou D’Amico
President & Executive Director