The proposed budget deal just announced includes a massive giveaway to huge, multi-national energy corporations that want full and immediate access to drill, baby, drill in our public forests and parks.

Greedy gas companies spent more than one million dollars lobbying state government this year, and it looks like it paid off. The state budget does not include a severance tax on natural gas drilling even though it injures Pennsylvania taxpayers. To add insult to injury, the budget deal also opens up state parks and forests to gas drillers. Because gas prices have fallen, gas leasing prices have also fallen, so now giant multi-national energy corporations will be able to make a sweetheart deal to lock up leases at bargain basement prices.

If our state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is forced to hold lease auctions in our state lands today, WE LOSE. This is an outrageous breech of the public trust and no way to balance the budget.

This is a taxpayer rip off – listen to PennFuture’s President and CEO Jan Jarrett describe the anatomy of this rip off.

Then, take action by urging your elected officials to dump this bad deal.