SHALE WELL ART.jpg

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, 2012)

Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

There's no doubt that Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale natural gas industry wields some pretty serious clout in Harrisburg.

But just how much has been driven home by a new report by Common Cause of Pennsylvania showing that the industry dropped a truly mind-blowing $49 million on political contributions and lobbying between 2007 and 2014.

According to our pals at the AP, who read the report so you don't have to, the Marcellusmoney.org report shows the industry spent $41 million on lobbyists and another $8 million on political contributions over the last seven years.

"That's a lot of money and it buys a lot of access to power," Barry Kauffman, Common Cause's executive director, tells the AP.

So in case you were wondering why the state doesn't have a fracking tax and why it allows drilling on state game lands and parks, now you know, Kauffman tells the AP.

"The political agenda of the state and the cares and concerns of the people should not be dominated by who has the most money to contribute at any given moment," Kauffman said. "Our agenda is to clean up government and make sure it works for the vast bulk of Pennsylvanians."

According to the report, here's who benefited from the industry's largess:

According to the AP, Corman said that any increase in taxes on shale drillers could scare away Royal Dutch Shell PLC, which could build an ethane processing plant in Beaver County. The company would receive millions of dollars in state tax credits if it follows through on the plan.

"First and foremost for us on the topic of energy is to make sure we stay attractive for that cracker plant," Corman told the AP. "That's a game changer for southwestern PA, which will create thousands of jobs. It will create far more revenue and wealth to the commonwealth than any severance tax would even hope to accomplish."

The rest of the day's news starts now.

Just in time for not having a shale tax, Pennsylvania faces up to a $2 billion deficit next year, The Inquirer reports. Best give away the store while we can, eh?

The former head of the PA Turnpike Commission has pleaded guilty to corruption charges, our colleague Matt Miller reports.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane's absence is fueling plenty of speculation,our Capitol colleague Wallace McKelvey reports in an exclusive interview.

And Kane has been told to work from home until at least Nov. 24 as a result of her car crash-related injuries, The Tribune-Review reports.

York Mayor Kim Bracey is among those who have been named to Gov.-elect Tom Wolf's transition team. Can you say "Cabinet Post?"

The attorney for Jerry Sandusky's victims says none of his clients believed the former Penn State assistant football coach would be convicted, The Post-Gazette reports.

The Milton Hershey School faces a fight over a rezoning proposal in Dauphin County, WITF-FM reports.

Senate Majority Leader (at least for a while longer) Harry Reid is ignoring a 'hold' put on a childcare bill by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., The Morning Call reports.

State Sen. Tony Williams is running for mayor of Philadelphia. Imagine his voice bouncing around the corridors of City Hall. The Seattle Seahawks' stadium won't be the loudest place in America anymore.

According to Keystone Politics, Sen. Scott Wagner of York is now the new 'shadow majority leader' in the state Senate.

You Say It's Your Birthday Dept.

Best wishes go out this morning to Erika Brunelle of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Enjoy your day.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's one that popped up on the way to work this morning. It's Dodgy and "Good Enough."

Friday's Gratuitous Hockey Link.

The Carolina Hurricanes dropped a 3-1 decision to the Winnipeg Jets last night. Win some, lose some, boys.

And now you're up to date. See you all back here in a bit.