UPDATED: Nearly 100 Turn Out to Protest at Range Resources
While event organizers wanted to present a message to Range Resources, police told them they were not permitted on premises.
Despite periods of heavy rain, nearly 100 people turned out to protest outside of Range Resources’ Southpointe headquarters Tuesday afternoon only to be told by Cecil Township police that they would not be permitted on premises.
Protesters carried a letter addressed to Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly calling for the creation of a severance tax for natural gas extraction “like those in place in every other major energy-producing state.”
“Enough is enough. I’m tired of seeing profitable gas companies pollute our air and water and not even pay their fair share,” said Tom Hoffman, western Pennsylvania director for Clean Water Action. “In addition to unconscionable cuts to education and other needed services, this budget continues to cut environmental protections at a time when they are sorely needed.”
The protesters began assembling just before 3 p.m. in a parking lot just down the hill from Range Resources, waiting until about 4:20 p.m. to make their way up Southpointe Boulevard with signs, air horns and makeshift drums, chanting, “What do we want? A gas tax! When do we want it? Now!” during the march.
But when they got to the entrance of the Range Resources building, police from North Strabane, Canonsburg, Cecil and Peters were waiting to help direct traffic and keep protesters from entering.
Cecil Township police told organizers who walked across the street to present the letter were told that the management company that owns the buildings asked that no one be permitted to enter. A sign indicating that the area was private property had also been posted.
Protesters stood for several minutes, chanting and making speeches as cars drove by honking their horns in acknowledgement.
“They are taking billions in resources from our state and not paying their fair share,” Hoffman said. “How do you feel about that?”
The crowd then uttered a hearty “No!”
After organizers were turned away by police, the group walked back to the area from which it started.
Reached after the rally, Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarella confirmed that employees from the company were permitted to leave work around 3 p.m. and that the decision to keep protesters out was the decision of the management company from which it leases the space in Southpointe.
He said the employees were sent home in the same spirit in which the protesters assembled—“to stimulate the economy even more.”
Pitzarella added that employees were encouraged to go spend money at local eateries and shops.
He also gave the following statement:
"It was great to see people tough it through the rain this afternoon, as our workers do, to bring attention to the tremendous economic activity and unprecedented tax revenue surges this industry has brought to my home Pennsylvania," Pitzarella said. "Despite the $800 million in taxes this industry generated last year, Range supports a local impact fee to ensure local communities fully maximize the benefits of this resource and do not incur additional expenses."
Bob Zanakis
12:22 am on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Love the quote ""Despite the $800 million in taxes this industry generated last year, ...". What Mr. Pitzarella could of said (and probably been fired) is "Range Resources itself paid $7 million in taxes on the $1.288 BILLION they made in Profits. A tax rate of 0.53%"
http://www.businessinsider.com/companies-pay-lowest-tax-loopholes-2011-2#1-range-resource-corporation-rrc-16
John Moyer
9:12 am on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The oil & gas industry will not protect you.
Don Franty
10:31 am on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
to Bob: "Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes." - Judge Learned Hand
to John: "The hard truth is that every major source of domestic energy carries safety and environmental risks. You either accept that and get on with it or buy the stuff overseas and accept all the risks that go with that," Brit Hume
Amanda Gillooly
10:47 am on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Thanks for your comments, everybody!
Bob Zanakis
6:18 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
To Don:
You should of also finished the Judge's quote in the final part it stated:
"Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands." Hence the problem. The law is set up to be in favor of those drilling companies who make huge profits to be taxed at 0.53% while the same government taxes individuals 10, 20 30, 35% depending on income. If i made over a billion in profits (I wish), I would be forced to pay 35% (gladly).
(con't)
Bob Zanakis
6:19 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
To Don (con't)
Judge Hand also stated:
"The art of publicity is a black art; but it has come to stay, and every year adds to its potency. "
Hence my original post of Mr. Pittzarella's comment on 800 million paid in taxes. Never trust one who is paid to market a business or product as what they say might not hold the total truth. In other words, they are paid to spin the discussion to achieve a desired end, like "Fair and Balanced" is not at all truthful. If they were truthful it would say "To Spin and Pursuade by any means".
As for your quote by Brit Hume, please post up someone who actually both is qualified in a area other than propaganda and is not on Rupart Murdock's payroll. He and his employer have no validity.
As to just add more information, there is another accident at a drilling site that was reported today. Just another day of the public tax payer picking up the pieces of the affected envoirnment as those drilling companies continue on their quests for more profits.
The Bedford County accident link:
http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/StoryAP/ap-drilling-spill-042011
Chuck
7:25 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Mr. Pitzarella’s statements get more and more outrageous. Is anyone still buying this propaganda? Matt, do YOU even believe your own statements? The public is getting wise to the marketing tactics and propaganda that continues to be spread from Range and others in the gas industry. This protest proves that. I don’t have a problem with the gas industry being in southwestern PA but they are NOT the good neighbors that they claim they are.
Don Franty
11:08 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Bob, you can't have it both ways. You are critical of RRC for paying tax at a very low rate but the reality is that they followed the letter of law. In your next post you are critical of the tax codes. Which is it, Bob? Is RRC the bad guy or is it that you don't like the tax code? You exposed yourself with your criticism of Brit Hume. Just because you don't like the messenger, you completely dismiss the message. Very open minded of you.
Bob Zanakis
12:13 am on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Don:
It is not a mutually exclusive propostion that you proposed. I am against both the law and the fact that with the law, companies like Range get away with basically no oversight as they rape and pillage the air, water and land that we live with on this great God given earth. We all know that it was behind closed doors that the engery bill was written by then V. P. Cheney and his cronies from the industry back in 2004. Think Bush signed it into law in early 2005. You know that they do not have to adhear to any law regarding hazardous wastes in the air, land or water. They are free to use things like Bromide and Benzene in their fracturing. They are polluting millions of gallons of water daily. We, the tax payer are being asked to replace our roads and infrastructure as they are destroyed by the wear and tear of heavy machinery. Let alone all the cost of treating their waste on land and streams.
As for Brit Hume, I always look to the author before reading the post. I really enjoy the life's work of Judge Hand and wished him to have been on the Supreme Court back then but that is another story. I saw the messenger and based on his personal bias and where he earns his living, needed to not read anything by him. Like going to Matt Pitzarella and asking him to lecture the children in grade school on the envoirmental preservation...it just won't pass the honesty test.
Bob Zanakis
12:25 am on Thursday, April 21, 2011
Just came across an article in the W/O. Very interesting as I too would love to know where Range disposed of their waste water back in 2005, 06, 07 and 08.
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localnews/04-20-11-DEP-calls-on-treatment-plants