Pa. Lawmakers in Harrisburg for Stretch Run

A spokesman for the state senate Republican leader said contrary to some opinion, he believed lawmakers would agree to a tax on natural gas extraction this fall. But he believes a comprehensive transportation funding bill was unlikely.

KYW's Tony Romeo reports there are relatively few days left in the two-year legislative session.  The state house began the stretch run this week with the senate returning next week.

Leaders of both parties have agreed to enact a natural gas extraction tax this fall and Erik Arneson, spokesman for senate majority leader, Chester republican Dominic Pileggi, believed enough legwork had been done to make it happen.

But he's not optimistic about chances for a bill to fund roads, bridges and mass transit.  However, he does believe there will be action on transportation next year:

"There's a wide variety of thoughts on what should be done, but I don't think there's any member of our caucus that thinks that we should just do nothing."

Arneson said chances were better for legislation that would address a pending crisis in state pension funds.