Corbett: It is not my intention to alter or affect the agreed-to terms of any existing lease

QFFECE THE Governor      
July 9, 2013



Today I signed Senate Bill 259, which amends Act 60 of 1979, commonly referred to as the Guaranteed 

Minimum Royalty Act. This legislation provides enhanced transparency to owners of oil and gas interests 

by requiring, at a minimum, that certain information which pertains to the payment for oil or gas production 

be disclosed on a royalty check stub or other means provided to the interest owner on a regular basis. 

These are important steps to better inform landowners and leaseholders regarding the production occurring 

from their property.  



I am aware of several questions and concerns which have been 'raised with regard to Section 4 of Senate 

Bill 259, which added a new Section 2.1 to the underlying statute. By signing this legislation, it is my 

intention, and I believe that of the General Assembly, to enhance the efficient development of oil and 

natural gas while safeguarding the rights and protections of landowners and leaseholders. 



It is not my intention to alter or affect the common-law Rule of Apportionment, or to alter or affect the 

agreed-to terms of any existing lease. I believe the constitutional protections which guard against legislative

impairment of contracts serves as an added backstop to these concerns.  



Moreover, I do not believe anything in Senate Bill 259 expands the ability of an oil or gas operator to define the size of a drilling unit, or to expand the ability of any operator to hold by production any parcels of leased land. Instead, the legal clarity provided by this legislation will further minimize environmental impacts and 

surface disturbance associated with oil or gas development; maximize the economic benefits of royalties 

realized by landowners and leaseholders; expand the number of royalty owners in the Commonwealth by 

encouraging the efficient development of oil and gas resources; and ensure that landowners and 

leaseholders are compensated fairly.  



I look forward to working with members of the General Assembly on additional, future steps to ensure that the interests of landowners are paramount.  



Sincerely, 

TOM CORBETT  

Governor

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on July 9, 2013 at 10:36pm

Landowners are being milked like cows by the gas industry.  Corbett is standing for re-election next year.  He obviously is an industry tool.  He does not deserve our votes.  

Permalink Reply by Samuel J. Orr on July 10, 2013 at 7:56am

Vote in a good liberal democrat Frank, and get Pa. a moratorium on fracking like they have in New York. Lets get a lot of new taxes and regulations to satisfy people like you, and in the process encourage the O&G companies to drill elsewhere. (I am not a particular fan of Corbett's and it appears a democrat will win the next election for governor!)  I am petrified of what that result will mean for O&G development in the state. I guarantee you that Vera Scroggins and the anti-frackers will not be voting republican, and also that they did not vote republican in the last election. On the national level Pa voted for Obama and the taxes on O&G royalties went up dramatically. Accepting that a democrat is likely to be elected, let us all pray that it is a person who will not kill O&G development in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Democratic Committee recently voted that a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing should be put in place until fracking could be done safely. Frank, you and your friends get out there and vote democrat! If you do, you can know that you are not only screwing yourself but all the rest of us who want O&G development to proceed in due course!!

Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on July 10, 2013 at 9:42am

Naaa.  I never have voted Democrap and never could bring myself to do that.  But I left the Republican party about ten years ago when I had had way too much of Bush.  I'm a Conservative.  I don't think Republican landowners, pissed off at Corbett over this, will vote Democrap.  I think they will do what so many of us must do these days with no other choice: we simply remain at home on voting day.  This is exactly what happened to Romney last fall, even though I voted for him, many of us simply did not vote.  

The Democrap party is the party of giveaway and redistribution.  The Republican party is strictly for business.  For the average landowner, for the average working person really, we have no party.

Permalink Reply by Tim Tarr on July 11, 2013 at 9:02am

It's called TEA party.

Either we need to start a third party or We need to stop the RINO's  of the Republican party. That is hard to do when you have the IRS,BATF,FBI and all the other agencies up our arse.

First we need to throw them out (don't allow them to win primaries). But don't nominate nut job's that have foot in mouth disease.

Something to think about:

27 State Legislatures Republican controlled

5 Split

1 non-partisan (Nebraska)

That adds up to 33 states That could be taken this election cycle (2014).

33 states is a very important number !!!!!

                                                 We The People

Permalink Reply by Marilyn Wanatt on July 16, 2013 at 7:36pm

Thats why the Republicans will lose again.  A no vote gives the Dems 1 more vote.

Permalink Reply by ECM on July 23, 2013 at 2:53pm

Remember, evil prospers when good men do nothing.

You sound like a good man...

Even though we do not agree with everything that the Republican party stands for...a vote for the Republicans is a vote against abortion, partial birth abortion and same sex marriage.  If we stand for righteousness, God will work out these other things.  I do not minimize how you feel these decisions may impact all of us...but if we don't take the sin of not  voting, abortion and same sex marriage on our own heads...God can still bless us/you through your land...I encourage you to vote against these unrighteous positions of the democratic party.  

Permalink Reply by SpreadsheetWizard on July 23, 2013 at 5:29pm

Guys,  the topic is gas, not theology.  Let's not argue about religion.

Permalink Reply by tom Scriven on August 4, 2013 at 3:03pm

politicians don't understand  a vote AGAINST them, they ony see the votes FOR them! You have to start at the local levels and endorse a canadate that has your beliefs and intrests at heart. starting at supervisors, city councle, commisioners, etc. these guys go on to become our senators, representitives, goveners, etc. More canidates, more choice, better reperesentation!

Permalink Reply by tom Scriven on August 4, 2013 at 2:56pm

2014 one third of the US Senate and all the seats in the house are up for election/reelection! If we sit at home and don't vote we have no right to complain! Find someoe that haralds your position and campaign for that person! the more  canidates out there  the better the choice! if we only have one canicate for a local office, that person will work their way up to be the only choice  for Senator, Congressman, Govenor, etc. There I am off my soap-box.

274fe3cm60wnmPermalink Reply by 274fe3cm60wnm on July 24, 2013 at 4:54pm

40 permits granted in NY-  they walked.. it's to hard to work there.. that's why they don't drill

nobody has said NO to drilling in NY.. nobody that matters.. people don't get it.  It's just too hard to get in and get it done smooth in NY> 

Permalink Reply by ECM on July 23, 2013 at 2:36pm

 

You may see what I am about to say as unrelated to your statement. 

The democratic party has a platform of abortion, partial birth abortion, and same sex marriage.

No matter what their policies beyond that, God will not bless such positions or those who vote for the democratic party candidate..

The voter personally will be held accountable for these positions, as though they participated in them personally... because they supported them with their vote.  You can not pray for yourself, your children to be well and healthy with your left and  vote to kill  babies with your right hand. Which hand should God look at.

  Evil prospers when good men do nothing...and we must voice our opinions and our opinions will not always be the same...but there are some basic rules of living that scream so loud for the error and injustice...that nothing else can be heard by God. 

God can work with a wrong decision, He can and will still bless you and your family when you stand for righteousness in the midst of wrong...but I implore you not to take the sin of abortion and same sex marriage on your head and those of your children over this.

God is bigger than this.  He can still bless you in the midst of it and make up down and down up to bless those who stand for righteousness..

I and my family left the democratic party over this issue sometime ago. 

I ask God to cause your land to bless you above all you could think or ask as you stand for righteousness. 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Rick on July 23, 2013 at 3:47pm

You are right about one thing ECM, nothing you wrote here has anything to do with this issue. But' i'll bite... are you saying no republicans have had abortions? or are gay? or commit adultery? hmmm... if you believe that, Newt Gingrich has ocean front property in arizona for you!  By the way not all democrats see abortion as acceptable... 

also, when you far rightious republicans have control over both houses and the presidency, why, oh why dont you go ahead and ban abortion, or get rid of socialist security?... they wait until they know it wont pass to make a show just for politics.... and thats all it is... a show... a three ring circus...

Now back to Corbett screwing the average joe...  republicans are getting screwed too... does that mean they are being punished by your loving God?

Thanks ECM ya make me smile!

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