Pa.’s natural gas taxes are not out of line

If there ever was a good example for why natural gas taxes should be increased for school funding, it’s Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai. His June 5 Perspectives piece, “Don’t Raise Taxes on Natural Gas Producers,” is a prime example of either A) not understanding math, B) not understanding how to do research, C) figures never lie but liars figure or D) all of the previous.

The only facts he states in his piece are the revenues generated in Ohio and West Virginia by their taxes versus the much higher amount generated in Pennsylvania.

What he fails to mention is that Pennsylvania produces at least four times (closer to five, but I’m rounding down) more natural gas than either of those two states. A five-minute internet search showed Pennsylvania is the third-highest producer in the nation, Ohio is fifth and West Virginia is seventh. Doing some simple math shows that West Virginia’s tax income would be higher than Pennsylvania’s while Ohio’s would be close to the same if those states produced as much natural gas as Pennsylvania. I suspect Mr. Turzai knows this but simply chose to ignore it.

If Mr. Turzai understands how to extrapolate and compare numbers, then he knows that our natural gas taxes aren’t out of line or excessively high.

Using the additional tax revenue to help fund education would benefit all Pennsylvanians. Learning math and understanding how facts can be manipulated aregood for everyone. JOSH BAYER Lawrenceville championship? What I think most of the team refused to attend was a politically motivated, divisive event recast as a patriotic tribute to President Donald Trump’s victory over the NFL and its players, given the league’s new national anthem policy (June 5, “Trump Calls Off Eagles’ Visit Over Anthem Dispute”). That seems more a “slap in the face” to the Eagles and the NFL players than it does a recognition of the Super Bowl champions.

Traditionally, this is just a nice White House visit and photo op. This event was supposed to be about the Super Bowl champs, wasn’t it? TRACY SOSKA

Pleasant Hills

There is a double standard in our country that needs to be addressed. Roseanne Barr sent out a tweet that was deplorable, and she was fired immediately and rightly so. Most people are not arguing that outcome. She was not on the air; she was at home and apologized and removed the tweet.

Samantha Bee, while on air, makes statements just as deplorable or worse and does not apologize until sponsors start pulling their ads. TBS apologizes also after it starts losing revenue. Does Ms. Bee get fired? No, she does not, and the very next night she getsan award.

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Ms. Barr is still in the news while Ms. Bee is forgiven. Why the double standard? I am not saying Ms. Barr should be forgiven. I am saying that if the punishment for this offense is being fired, then Ms. Bee also should be fired. I wonder what the outcome and outrage would have been if Ms. Bee’s comments were made about President Obama’s daughter and not President Trump’s? PATRICK CUMMINGS

Imperial