Public Policy
A Win-Win: Add Value to Your Employee Benefits With Life and Disability
From ChamberChoice and Smart Business Pittsburgh Accident and tragedy are two things no employer wants to see for employees. “Disability products and life insurance give employees peace of mind, knowing they have financial support in the event of unforeseen circumstances,” says Chuck Whitford, consultant at JRG Advisors. “They also give employers peace of mind in knowing…
Read MoreSusquehanna Nuclear Power Plant Continues Focus on Safety and Efficiency
The Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant located in Salem Township is on track to generate more power in 2017 than in any other year in its 35-year history, according to Tim Rausch, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of Talen Energy. While nuclear plants across the country have been shutting down in recent years due…
Read MoreHouse State Government Committee Advances Paycheck Protection Legislation
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry In late November, the House State Government Committee held a voting meeting where two bills were advanced to the House floor that would bar public employers from using taxpayer-funded public systems to automatically deduct from employees’ paychecks campaign contributions or any portion of union dues intended for political…
Read MoreTax Reform Plan Expected to Save Middle Class Taxpayers
The average person in Pennsylvania will save over $2,000 annually on their taxes with the passage of a tax reform plan being ironed out between the House and the Senate, according to Congressman Lou Barletta. When Barletta spoke to Chamber members in October, he pledged that any tax reform plan would have to benefit the…
Read MoreIRS Releases Final 2017 Forms for 1094 and 1095 Reporting
From ChamberChoice Employers are continually being reminded that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still intact and remains the law of the land. Final 2017 forms and instructions for reporting information to the IRS to assist with the enforcement of the individual and employer mandates under the ACA have been released by the IRS. This release…
Read MorePA Chamber Signs Multi-Chamber Letter in Support of Federal Main Street Lending Bill
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry The PA Chamber joined more than 100 other chambers of commerce nationwide earlier this month in signing on to a letter to Congress urging them to roll back regulations that were first implemented following the Great Recession and have since slowed lending and hurt economic opportunities for small…
Read MoreAffordable Care Act Mandate Enforcement Continues
From ChamberChoice Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) taxpayers are required to maintain what is considered “minimum essential coverage” (MEC) health care for themselves, their spouses and dependents, as applicable. Failure to maintain MEC during any month in the year (with limited exceptions) exposes a taxpayer to a “shared responsibility” penalty. Because the tax penalty…
Read MoreBusinesses & Individuals Encouraged to Explore Health Insurance Options During Open Enrollment
As evaluating and selecting health insurance in today’s ever-changing environment is confusing, resources exist to help individuals and businesses choose the best option. At a recent community forum co-sponsored by the Chamber, panelists advised people on the marketplace to reevaluate their coverage. This year’s timeline for making changes is considerably shorter than in previous years,…
Read MoreState Legislation Aims to Reduce Opioid Abuse
Recently, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency, which is touching all socioeconomic classes. From a legislative perspective, one strategy for addressing the crisis would be to implement a prescription drug formulary in Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensations system, which would streamline medication prescriptions to help patients avoid the overuse that can result…
Read MoreFederal Tax Reform Bill Approved by U.S. House
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry Last week, the U.S. House voted mostly along party lines – 227 to 205 – in favor of the “Tax Cuts & Jobs Act” – H.R. 1 – which aims to make significant updates to the Federal Tax Code for the first time in more than 30 years.…
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