Pa. House enters 2nd day of drilling bill debate

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives is beginning its second day of debate on a bill to impose a fee on natural-gas drilling in Pennsylvania and toughen regulations over the booming industry.

The House debate today comes two days after the 174-page bill was unveiled. The Senate passed it handily Tuesday, and House approval would send it on to Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, who negotiated it with Republican legislative leaders.

Democrats weren’t included in negotiations and are critical of the bill, saying it doesn’t exact a fair price for the lucrative natural gas and won’t do enough to protect public health and safety.

Local governments would have the power to decide whether to impose the fee on their local wells. Pennsylvania is the largest gas-producing state that doesn’t tax the activity.