Harrisburg Paper's Editorial Board's April Fools Day Editorial about Gas Extraction Tax

[JPZenger]

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/04/its_a_gas_the_patriot-news_dig.html

Worth a click.

[Divernan]

1. Nicely done - here are 2 serious comments following the editorial

The industry is claiming to be creating a lot of jobs. This is misleading as what they are failing to state is that all those Texas natural gas companies are flying in drillers, engineers, technicians from Texas to perform most of the work. The jobs are not going to PA citizens, rather the industry is treating PA as if it were an offshore rig where it has to fly employees out to work for a few weeks, and then fly them home for a few weeks off.

Hotels and restaurants are seeing a profit as these out-of-staters need a place to stay while setting up each drill pad, however, these are short-term, not long term profits for the counties where drill pads are being set up. In a few years, we'll have drill pads everywhere, with few places left to install more wells and the industry will mostly disappear except for the truckers who haul it away. Ever notice the lack of workers in the pictures of nat gas drill sites all across the country? PA is being duped and our politicians have been paid to turn a blind eye.
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cenpennrdr
cenpennrdr April 01, 2011 at 9:47AM
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In regard to jobs, anecdotal things. I'm thankful to live outside hbg because this issue isn't a concern down here as we aren't part of the shale. The rest of my family still lives in the thick of the drilling area. I've got a close relative trying to "get clean" from hard drugs (coke habit) so that he can "work for the drillers - I'm gonna be bringing in all kinds of cash" - so that's not a concern. And, my school counselor friend in Williamsport reports that many underperforming students there are looking to drop out to "work for the drillers - I'm gonna be rich!". And family reports that when you stop in to just about any diner up there - it's a sea of Texas plate. Paints a pretty picture doesn't it?

[mrmpa]

3. As evidenced by injured workers...

last month there was an explosion in Washington County (Pennsylvania) at a gas drilling site. The injured workers were from West Virginia.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. That would be funny if I didn't worry that the lawmakers would get onboard

with the suggestions. Sounds like just the kind of thing they would like. I hope they get the irony.