Gas Industry Makes Hefty Campaign Contributions
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
14 September 2010
By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
While state officials are weighing a tax on Marcellus Shale gas, the
gas industry has been busy making contributions to the campaigns of
political officials, including the gubernatorial candidates, House and
Senate leaders and rank-and-file legislators.
According to Common Cause, which calls itself a nonpartisan "people's
lobby," the gas industry has tripled its campaign contributions in the
last three years and has spent $5 million on lobbying the Legislature.
At $372,000, the biggest recipient of contributions so far has been
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett, who has come out
against all new taxes. Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who also is
Senate president pro tem, is in second place, at $117,000.
Gov. Ed Rendell, who leaves office in January, is in third place, with
$84,000 from the gas industry. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan
Onorato, who says he favors a Marcellus Shale tax, is fourth, at
$74,000.
Among Republican legislative leaders, Senate GOP Leader Dominic Pileggi
received $25,500 and House GOP Leader Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney,
received $17,600.
Among Democrats, House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon, received
$12,500; and House Democratic Leader Todd Eachus received $1,250.
A full list of recipients can be found at http://www.marcellusmoney.org