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Despite Opposition, Corbett Stands Ground On Natural Gas Tax

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Democratic lawmakers continue to go round-and-round with Governor Corbett over a tax on natural gas drilling, but the governor continues to stand his ground.

During state House budget hearings, Delaware County Democrat Greg Vitali continued to press for the Democrats' Holy Grail: a tax on natural gas extraction in the state's Marcellus Shale regions.

"It's absolutely indefensible, as a matter of public policy, that the governor just tenaciously – and I'll say it, pig-headedly – refuses to consider a Marcellus drilling tax."

But Budget Secretary Charles Zogby says Governor Corbett and his opponents will just have to agree to disagree, "I think we could talk about this until the cows come home: the governor's just not interested in increasing taxes. End of story."

While he does not favor a tax on gas extraction that would raise revenue for the state general fund, Corbett says he will discuss ways to address the costs being incurred by local governments.

Reported By Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio.

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