|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Rick Mirabito |
|
Mirabito introduces bill to help create more Marcellus Shale jobs
HARRISBURG, May 24 – State Rep. Rick Mirabito introduced a bill this week that would create a new tax credit program as an incentive for companies in the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry to hire Pennsylvania workers.
His bill, H.B. 2399 – part of the House Democrats’ Marcellus Compact legislative package – would establish the Marcellus Shale Job Creation Tax Credit program. Mirabito said he believes job creation for Pennsylvania workers should have been a priority in the recently signed Marcellus Shale law, known as Act 13 of 2012.
"We have all seen the impacts of the natural gas industry on our region, and there is no denying the economic boon this industry has brought to many of our communities," said Mirabito, D-Lycoming. "Unfortunately, too many hard-working men and women in our area have been unable to share in the economic growth from natural gas drilling, and my bill aims to change that."
Mirabito noted that a study last year by Penn State University and the Pennsylvania College of Technology showed that actual jobs created by development of the Marcellus Shale were significantly less than what had been originally predicted – 23,500 actual jobs created, as compared with the original estimate of 44,000 jobs.
"We can do better than that," Mirabito said. "We need to make family sustaining jobs for Pennsylvania workers a top priority in the Marcellus Shale gas industry."
The Marcellus Compact is a six-bill legislative package that would fix the flawed Marcellus Shale law. The Marcellus Compact is our promise to put the interests of Pennsylvania taxpayers, workers and families first.
###