HARRISBURG — House Republicans on Tuesday abruptly canceled a vote on an impact fee to produce revenue from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction, only hours after they had announced it would be debated.

Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-York, said the decision was made to buy time until a gubernatorial commission reviewing Marcellus Shale drilling issues reports to Gov. Tom Corbett next month.

Earlier Tuesday, Corbett had said he would veto any gas tax or fee that might pass this week.

Saylor said the Democrats had agreed to postpone action on the politically charged topic until fall, and they did withdraw related amendments to the Fiscal Code.

But Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said there was no deal and would not rule out an attempt to pursue a Marcellus Shale amendment later this week. The state budget deadline is Thursday, after which the Legislature will probably recess until Labor Day.

“We’re not in charge of the calendar,” Dermody said. “We’ll see what happens.”

The day began with Republicans announcing votes on shale-tax amendments to a Senate-passed bill concerning hazardous site cleanups would be held in the afternoon.

The main GOP proposal, by Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana, would assess a fee on Marcellus Shale wells of $50,000 the first year, $25,000 the second and third years and $10,000 a year for the next seven years.

Dermody said his members want “a real, meaningful Marcellus Shale bill.”

“The amendment that was going to run is nothing near what’s required,” he said.