A majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of implementing an oil
profits tax, according to a poll released Thursday.

Meanwhile, there is more opposition than support for increasing
the state’s sales tax in order to reduce property taxes, the
Keystone Poll conducted by Franklin and Marshall College
indicated.

All told, 59 percent said they were in favor of placing a tax on
the profits of oil companies to help pay for transportation –
particularly transit authorities in Philadelphia and
Pittsburgh.

If such a tax is approved, it could have a devastating impact on
the American Refining Group refinery and local oil producers across
McKean County and the surrounding region. The oil and gas industry
is just now coming back into its own, with record drilling being
performed across the area.

“While everyone certainly wants more money for highways and
bridges, it (tax) could be devastating to our area,” Causer said,
adding he doesn’t put a whole lot of faith in polling, which can be
leading and suggestive.

Looking at the polling numbers, 39 percent of the respondents
strongly favor a tax, while 20 percent somewhat favor one. On the
flip side, 41 percent are not in favor of it, including 20 percent
that strongly oppose one.

Across the region, local producers and refiners have stood up in
opposition to the plan, which was introduced by Gov. Ed Rendell
during his budget address earlier this year. Causer has called the
plan “ill informed.”

“Rendell is still pushing for it,” Causer said, adding he
recently stumped for it during a meeting with SEPTA, the transit
authority in Philadelphia. “This tax is just not the answer. It’s
not fair for people here to pay for mass transit agencies in the
big cities.

“Oil and gas production is an economic driver for our area.
Those authorities need to be looking in their own backyard for
extra funding.”

Meanwhile, a total of 50 percent of the respondents oppose
raising the state sales tax by 1 percent to help balance the
budget.

Of that figure, 32 percent strongly oppose the idea, while 18
percent somewhat oppose it. Conversely, 23 percent somewhat favor
the plan, while 21 percent strongly endorse it, according to the
poll.

For his part, Causer said the Legislature has looked at all
sides of the issue, noting a 1 percent hike would generate about
$1.2 billion.

“Of that, the governor is only proposing putting $400,000
million into property tax reduction,” Causer said. “The other
$800,000 would go into the general fund. That’s not real property
tax relief and I oppose that.”

Causer said if a tax shift is made, it has to be a
dollar-for-dollar shift – with all the money going towards property
tax relief.

To that end, the poll indicates that 44 percent of the
respondents would favor increases in both the sales and income tax,
while 42 percent would like to see a hike in sales tax only.

Causer said it doesn’t surprise him to see people looking for a
mixture.

“It’s all based on a person’s situation. I believe the majority
of people would rather see a shift on the state level instead of
the local level. No matter what, some people will make out better
than others. But what’s clear is that we can’t continue to fund
schools on the backs of property owners.”

Interestingly, only 32 percent of the respondents favor the
complete elimination of property taxes, while 53 percent oppose
such a measure, according to the poll.

Lastly, on the issue of creating more laws that regulate gun
ownership, 39 percent said they favor doing so, while 31 percent
strongly oppose it.

The number of individuals strongly opposing additional
legislation has risen by 7 percent since February 2000. The
percentage of people favoring the laws has slowly declined.

“It really comes down to a Second Amendment issue,” Causer said,
adding in his legislative district those figures would likely be
completely opposite, with an overwhelming majority opposed to any
further erosion of those rights.

The numbers seem to bear that out, with more than 8,000
residents signing petitions through Causer’s office opposing recent
legislation that calls for criminal background checks for gun
owners and to renew their registration annually.

Officials said the poll was conducted between May 29 and June 7,
with 567 residents of the state.