Gas drilling is the top issue for Onorato and Corbett in governor’s race

BILL O’BOYLE

boboyle@timesleader.com

The industry and how it will impact Northeastern Pennsylvania and the entire state is an issue on the minds of voters and the two gubernatorial candidates, who each have received donations from the drilling companies

 According to Common Cause, a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970, from June to September, the natural gas drilling industry dramatically increased its campaign contributions to the state’s two major candidates.

Between June 8 and Sept. 13, industry PACs donated a total of at least $379,500 – 88 percent, or $334,500, going to Republican candidate Tom Corbett, and 12 percent, or $45,000, to Democratic candidate Dan Onorato, Common Cause said. Before June, the industry had given $372,720 to Corbett and $74,300 to Onorato, making their updated totals from the natural gas industry through mid-September at least $752,220 and $119,300, respectively, the report said.

Onorato has criticized Corbett, the current attorney general, for taking the large donations.

“Tom Corbett is wrong on this issue,” Onorato said. “We can do this safely and have the industry pay.”

Onorato, 49, said some 20 other states have a severance tax on drilling – something Corbett opposes.

“The tax hasn’t hurt their business,” he said. “The drillers can’t go elsewhere – the gas is here in Pennsylvania. My opponent wants the taxpayers to pay for it.”

Both candidates agree that Marcellus Shale is the biggest issue in the Northeast, if not the entire state. Its impact on jobs and the economy will be overwhelming, they said.

Corbett, 61, the state’s top prosecutor, scoffed at any suggestion that the donations might influence him as governor.

“My opponent has gotten donations from the gas companies too – just not as much,” Corbett said. “But nobody really thinks that Tom Corbett, because he received donations from anybody, that those donations would influence his decisions.”

Corbett said the state is at the dawn of the Marcellus Shale industry, and he predicts hundreds of thousands of jobs will follow.

“And hundreds of millions of revenues for the region,” he said. “Some 40,000 to 60,000 jobs have already added to the state’s economy, and revenue has been realized through ancillary industries. The state is getting revenue from sales taxes.”

Corbett said before he will support any new taxes, he wants to bring all parties together to study the impact the industry will have on all Pennsylvanians.

“We have to protect the environment,” he said. “In this race, I’m the one who has prosecuted people for damaging the environment. Bad actors will be dealt with.”

Onorato said as Allegheny County executive, he has the experience needed to be governor.

“I’ve reformed government,” he said. “I’ve cleaned up industrial sites.”

Onorato said he would use the revenue gained from a severance tax to restore funding to the state to assure the water supply and environment are monitored. He said he would use the money to assure roads, sewer lines and water lines are cared for and farm lands are preserved.

Onorato is married to the former Shelly Ziegler of Mountain Top. He said he has been visiting Northeastern Pennsylvania for 23 years.

“I guess you can say I have a soft spot for that corner of the state,” Onorato said. “As governor, I will view NEPA as a key to promote the state’s economy. The proximity to New Jersey and New York is critical.”

Corbett said he has spent a lot of time in the area as well and he has a strong connection with many people here.

“I love all of Pennsylvania and I will be governor for all of Pennsylvania,” he said. “Northeastern Pennsylvania will be well represented with me as governor; I know the issues facing the region.”