In his veto message for H.B. 1100, which would have provided a credit of 47 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of gas purchased to produce petrochemicals or fertilizers, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said the state instead needed to focus on job creation and financial stimulus packages. Such financial relief, Wolf said, was needed to offset the economic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In addition, the governor said, taxpayer-funded economic development like the tax credit required further enforcement methods to ensure the projects use state funds responsibly and created appropriately paid jobs.
Under the bill, the credit would have been available to manufacturers that invested at least $450 million to construct a production facility and hired at least 800 full-time workers during the construction phase. The measure was passed by the state Legislature in February.
--Editing by Vincent Sherry.
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