Norquist On 'No-Tax Pledge'

PITTSBURGH (NEWSRADIO 1020 KDKA) -- So is it a tax or a fee?

With Gov. Corbett's Marcellus Shale plan including a proposed "impact fee" for drilling companies, Pennsylvania lawmakers are facing increased scrutiny from the no-new-tax group Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and its president, Grover Norquist.

But now Norquist and his group are facing scrutiny of their own, both from the very politicians who signed the ATR no-tax oath and from Pennsylvania voters.

NewsRadio 1020 KDKA's Robert Mangino talks with Norquist about how he defines the difference between a tax and a fee, and why he believes the Governor's plan constitutes the latter.

Mangino also asks Norquist about the Pa. state senators and House members who, according to Harrisburg's The Patriot-News, are now claiming that they have no recollection of ever signing the pledge, yet find themselves on Norquist's no-tax list.  Some are claiming that it was not clear their names would remain on the list for their entire political careers.

ATR makes public the names of lawmakers who have signed its no-tax pledge, including Gov. Corbett.  The group also makes public the names of any perceived violators of that pledge.

Four state senators and 30 House members are included on the list.

Listen to Robert Mangino every weekday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA