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PA Chamber to Lawmakers: Study Shows that Pro-Business Reforms Must be Fall Session Priority

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

The General Assembly’s return to Harrisburg for the fall session is just a few short weeks away.  On behalf of our broad-based membership, the PA Chamber is preparing by urging lawmakers to prioritize legislation that will reverse negative perceptions about Pennsylvania’s business climate and help businesses of all sizes grow and succeed.

A new study offers the latest proof that the Commonwealth has its work cut out for it in terms of attracting jobs and capital against surrounding states.   Financial rating website WalletHub recently ranked the Commonwealth a very dismal 45th in the country for its “2019 Best and Worst States to Start a Business,” and third from the bottom in terms of the state’s overall “business environment.”   Unfortunately, these rankings take away from the positive things about Pennsylvania that we should be able to celebrate and tout – for example, a recent Bloomberg study ranked PA No. 1 in terms of having the nation’s most diverse economy.

Through our member-driven advocacy efforts, the PA Chamber is prioritizing a more competitive business tax climate as lawmakers come back this fall.  This will start with comprehensive tax reforms, including the reduction of a 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax rate that is among the nation’s highest.  We’re also tackling Pennsylvania’s burdensome regulatory environment – which consists of more than 153,000 regulations on the state’s business community – by supporting legislation that would streamline and update antiquated regulatory policies.  We’re working toward an equitable justice system that provides fairness and predictability; as well as labor laws that balance the needs of both employers and workers.  And, we’re fighting back against misguided efforts to stymie business growth – including leading the opposition against a government-mandated wage increase and a targeted additional severance tax on natural gas companies operating here in PA.

When lawmakers come back to session in September, the PA Chamber is continuing our push to get these important initiatives enacted.  Doing so will send the right message to the nation’s business community that Pennsylvania has a lot of attributes that make our Commonwealth great, including: a prime geographic location, a diverse economy, extensive natural resources and a dynamic citizenship that we’re working to prepare for 21st century jobs through a number of workforce development efforts.

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