I understand why Gov. Corbett and the Legislature declined to tax the gas to be taken out of Marcellus shale wells by drillers. It was the exploratory phase, and a no-tax-on-gas-extracted policy invited lots of exploration and jobs.

But the exploration phase of the Marcellus boom has peaked in Pennsylvania. Why not pass an extraction tax now? That would permit Pennsylvanians to share in the bounty from all future gas resources taken from our commonwealth.

I also understand that all taxes are eventually paid for by the retail consumer — you and I. But in this case, the big energy companies would pay the initial extraction tax and recover it by raising prices to all buyers of that gas.

At least the burden of payment would then be spread out over all consumers across the nation and abroad, making Pennsylvania consumers' share that much lower.

Most Marcellus shale states, logically, have passed extraction taxes. It's a shame that we have to make a choice between political parties in order to have any hope of getting one passed here in Pennsylvania.

Ed Collins

West Newton

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