Coincidence or not, business groups reached a deal with the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), the same day the House speaker suggested he’d side with a moratorium. “We’ve reached an agreement on a tax structure which would provide revenue to the state of Illinois as well as fees to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency,” said the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), “again, agreed to, which would be on a two-year basis at 3 percent, and, after that, on a scale, on a step, up to 6 percent.” The fee per well would be $13,000.
“If our environmental folks feel that this is a safe bill, I think that that’s a good sign,” said an optimistic Gov. Pat Quinn. Bradley said he expects a vote in the House Revenue and Finance Committee on Friday.

(posted3/14/13 by Illinois Radio Network/Christian Spain)