Pa. House to vote on natural gas, cigarette taxes

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is debating final passage of new taxes on Marcellus shale natural gas extraction and another dime a pack on cigarettes.

A vote on whether to send the $317 million tax package to the state Senate was expected later today.

Republicans say the Democratic-backed package falls short of balancing the budget and would have a harmful effect on the state’s economic health.

The debate comes as lawmakers and Gov. Ed Rendell are facing the June 30 end of the fiscal year. Dwindling state revenue collections and uncertainty about the level of federal stimulus payments are complicating the budget process this year.