TOP ISSUES FOR MAKING PENNSYLVANIA MORE COMPETITIVE
As the economy continues to sputter nationally, globally, and locally, everyone is seeking ways to improve the situation. That includes the business community. While short-term economic improvements are certainly desired, the Pennsylvania business community also wants to ensure that any steps taken in an effort to stimulate the economy today, also help put Pennsylvania in a more advantageous economic position in the future.
To that end, a collaborative effort of more than 20 statewide business organizations is working together with an overarching goal of providing a common voice for the business community on the pressing issues that impact every firm’s ability to grow, prosper, and create jobs. This effort will only be successful if Pennsylvania employers and employees are also active participants in advocating for the policies that promote economic growth and job creation in this great Commonwealth. If we remember this simple message -- 'Pennsylvania must be more competitive” -- we can all prosper.
BUDGET As the Legislature considers Governor Edward G. Rendell's fiscal year 2009-2010 budget proposal, the business community suggests that the Legislature:
Oppose increased taxes on job creators, including the Personal Income Tax rate and the Sales & Use Tax.
Oppose enactment of 'Combined Reporting.'
Cut spending.
Empower a 'Grace Commission' to address costs.
Limit General Fund spending growth.
Limit irresponsible debt.
Adopt zero-based budgeting.
Reinstate 'sunset' review and termination.
Conduct performance audits.
ENERGY To be competitive, Pennsylvania businesses must be able to procure plentiful, reliable, and affordable energy. This requires the infrastructure and regulatory climate that fosters generation, transmission, and distribution systems throughout the Commonwealth.
ENVIRONMENT To be competitive, Pennsylvania businesses must have a rational and predictable regulatory climate. Pennsylvania’s environmental policy should be no more stringent than the policy of other states unless evidence can be presented to policymakers that unique factors in the Commonwealth put our citizens and/or environment at greater risk unless unilateral action is taken. Moreover, proof must be provided that Pennsylvania’s unilateral action provides greater safety and environmental protection.
HEALTH CARE To be competitive, Pennsylvania citizens and our businesses must have the ability to access affordable health care. According to recent data, more than 90 percent of Pennsylvanians are covered by health care insurance. For many, their insurance is purchased in whole or in part by their current or former employer, or spouse’s employer. Mandated health care benefits, outrageous medical liability claims, and other factors combine to drive health care cost increases at alarming rates.
INFRASTRUCTURE To be competitive, Pennsylvania must improve it's infrastructure. Employers rely on roads and rail to get raw materials in and finished goods out to market. Employees need roads and bridges and mass transit systems to get to their jobs so they can earn a living. All of us depend on water and sewer systems to operate effectively every day. Pennsylvania must look to increase infrastructure replacement, development, and funding, in order to:
Properly maintain current roads and bridges.
Properly maintain mass transit systems.
Maintain and expand water and sewer systems.
Expand energy transmission systems.
Expand rail systems and inter-modal operations.
LEGAL REFORM To be competitive, Pennsylvania must enact reforms to make the state's legal system fair, predictable, and even-handed. The business community encourages the following steps be taken:
Enact the 'Fair Share Act' to reform joint and several liability.
Implement reforms to reduce frivolous lawsuits.
Provide meaningful product liability reform, including a statue of repose for product liability actions.
Enact reasonable protections for retailers who unknowingly sell a defective product.
Apply to all tor actions the same 'venue shopping reforms that have reduced medical malpractice claims.
Balance legal liability from the sale of food products against constomers' choices to over-indulge in these products.
Work to ensure access to competitive and affordable medical malpractice insurance.
Amend the Constitution to empower the Legislature to consider limits on damages.
TAX To be competitive, the Pennsylvania business community urges the state Legislature to take the following actions on tax policy:
Maintain the phase-out of the Capital Stock & Franchise Taxes.
Adopt the Single Sales Factor for the apportionment of corporate revenue subject to Pennsylvania's Corporate Net Income Tax.
Eliminate the cap on the deductibility of net operating losses.
Oppose the implementation of so-called 'Combined Reporting.'
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The bottom-line for business is the continuing need for employees who will arrive at work everyday without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol; be able to work in a group environment; read and give written instructions; make effective use of oral communication skills; perform basic math functions necessary for the job; and often operate a piece of technology or equipment.
In today’s marketplace, “hand skills” are as important as “head skills.” Advanced education and college are required for some careers, but by no means all careers. There are very good, high wage career opportunities for people who posses post-secondary technical or vocational education. Generally, business can find its white collar workers, but there is a desperate need for skilled workers — the so-called “gold collar jobs.”
