PA Chamber: Misguided UC Report Misrepresents Key Facts
Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry
The Keystone Research Center recently released an Unemployment Compensation report that misrepresents key facts about taxes paid by employers on employee wages, and PA Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Halper issued the following comments to set the record straight:
“Unemployment compensation is a critical safety net to help individuals who were laid off through no fault of their own as they actively seek new employment. We agree with the Keystone Research Center that Pennsylvanians need a financially stable system. Unfortunately, their recently released report calls for potentially massive tax increases on employers and misrepresents key facts to reach a misguided conclusion.
“The report refers to the amount of wages on which employers pay taxes per employee, known as the ‘taxable wage base.’ In Pennsylvania, the taxable wage base is $10,000. The report repeatedly claims that this amount is too low and is “less than 33 states and far below Washington State’s $62,500.
“The Keystone Research Center leaves out the key fact that employer taxes are based on both the ‘taxable wage base’ and the rate paid on those wages. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Labor data, Pennsylvania has the number one highest rate paid on those wages in the country.
“In fact, Pennsylvania employers pay the 14th highest average UC tax rate in the country; higher than 36 other states…including Washington State.
“The fact is that Pennsylvania employers invest considerably into the UC system – far more than most states. Policymakers should reject any proposal that seeks to achieve a more financially stable system by simply raising taxes on employers.
“We look forward to engaging in constructive, honest discussions and working with the legislature, Gov.-Elect Shapiro and his administration, UC stakeholders, and advocates on policies to improve the UC system.”
###
Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
Department of Labor Receives Chamber Feedback
Last Friday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce successfully submitted the comments from almost 200 associations, chambers of commerce (including the Columbia Montour Chamber) and businesses to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing the recent proposed regulation which would redefine how to classify employees and independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The big picture: the proposed regulation is biased towards finding employee status, and therefore will upend millions of successful, legitimate independent contractor relationships.
For more information on this important issue, please visit www.SaveFlexWork.com and feel free to contact Tom Sullivan at TSullivan@uschamber.com by email with any questions.
Promote New Year Events in January ChamberPack!
December can be a sneaky month - you're excited to celebrate the holidays and wrap up 2022, and before you know it, the New Year is upon you!
We don't want you to miss the opportunity to kick off an outstanding 2023, so we're reminding all members that you can increase the awareness of your promotions, offers, or regular business services in the next ChamberPack mailing, slated for January. ChamberPack is a cost-effective way to get your information to the Chamber's 400+ members. Just provide copies, and we'll take care of compiling and sending the mailing. The next ChamberPack will be mailed just after we ring in the New Year. Remember, your fliers are due at the Chamber by January 20th!
Call the Chamber at 570-784-2522 to reserve your space or click here for more information.
2022 Holiday Open House
The Chamber’s 2022 Holiday Open House was another smashing success, thanks to the contributions of our incredible sponsors and the work of excellent volunteers. Special thanks to the Chamber’s Premier Sponsor, Montour Solar One, and Santa’s Workshop Sponsor, My Benefit Advisor and World Kinect.
As 300 guests poured into the Pine Barn Inn last Tuesday evening, some at the behest of our Angel Sponsor and shuttle service from Susquehanna Valley Limousine, they were greeted by an incredible spread of food, drink, prizes and fun.
We say prizes of course, because of the generous offerings of so many raffle prize donors, whose gifts made the 50/50 and raffle a wonderful success. Prizes this year included 10 gift certificates from Steph’s Subs, as well as gift certificates from Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, Towne Camera, Quaker Steak & Lube, a one-night stay at The Elmdale Inn, a pie dish from Renco Ace Hardware, a bicycle helmet from the Dutch Wheelman, and incredible prizes from the Bloomsburg Fair Association, including two family four packs with parking passes and a grandstand prize pack. Four of our flower arrangements were also raffled off during the evening. What a spread!
The event’s food offerings were just as generous this year, and featured top-notch selections from our host, The Pine Barn Inn, as well as the samplings of the Chamber’s Angel Sponsors, who included the Columbia Montour Area Vocational & Technical School’s culinary arts program, Craft Catering, The Farmhouse at Turkey Hill and Turkey Hill Brewing, Freas Farm Winery, Steph’s Subs, Shanty Secrets and Wild for Salmon.
A photo booth, set up by new member and Angel Sponsor Something Borrowed by T + M, made the evening’s photos a festive affair, while gorgeous flower arrangements from Angel Sponsor Blossoms in Bloom by Megan, adorned our tables, serving as centerpieces.
Repeating a tradition that has brought smiles to many, the Chamber once again opened our “Holiday Cheer Bar”, sponsored by Lions Gate Apartments. Guests who came to this complimentary bar generously contributed tips which are to be donated to three area nonprofits. This year, the nonprofits selected were the Women’s Center of Columbia and Montour Counties, Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. and the Chamber’s Foundation. Special thanks to Tim Wagner, Amy Gaffney, and the ladies of the Lions Gate team, who tended bar to benefit these nonprofits.
Throughout the evening, a number of additional volunteers, namely your Chamber Ambassadors, contributed to the success of the event. Special thanks to Ambassadors Lauren Duane, Sandy Cole, Ruth Wardrop, Ray & Laura Haden, and Michelle Boone. Additional thanks to Kali Berleth, Amy Gaffney and Carly Stout, who assisted throughout the evening with photos and more. Brenda Flanagan, the Chamber's Administrative Assistant, and Foundation Director Jeff Emanuel also played a vital role in the success of the event.
Thanks for a great event, stay tuned for more opportunities to connect with members!
Welcome New Member – Wrk Inside Out, LLC
The Columbia Montour Chamber is pleased to welcome Wrk Inside Out, LLC, as its newest member. While the health and wellness industry promises quick fixes and focuses on extreme elimination, restriction, and forced ideology that makes the ultimate indicator of health a scale, Wrk Inside Out stands out from the crowd.
Owner and coach Jess Fester works to help her clients do three things: embrace food, embrace movement, and embrace life so that they can live it more abundantly. With Jess, you'll do this by improving physical, mental, emotional, environmental, existential, and relational health.
Find out what works best for you to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Life is hard enough by itself, let alone trying to force something that doesn’t consider all of who you are and what you currently do on a day to day basis. Wrk Inside Out is not designed to be a quick fix, but if you embrace the journey you will take all that you have learned and use it for the rest of your life.
Using both online and in-person coaching and training options, Jess is ready to help you meet your goals!
Member News – December 7, 2022
Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society Receives $650,000.00 State Grant
Congrats to the CCHGS, who with these funds will purchase the former PNC Bank building on the corner of Main and Market Streets in Bloomsburg. This is a strategic location choice for the Historical Society, being right next door to the Bloomsburg Public Library and right across from the Columbia County Courthouse. A location right across from the Courthouse allows easy access for those needing access to historic files and records kept by the Historical Society. The new location will also allow much more room to display many items currently kept in storage, as well as avail free parking to Society visitors.
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Receives $250,000.00 State Grant
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum applied for grant funding for the purpose of expanding current services and offering new programming. This popular attraction has simply outgrown its current footprint so this grant will be of significant help in helping it to expand and better serve the high number of visitors.
Guest Blog Post: State Farm Announces Reduction in Animal Collisions in 2022
Check out this post and the newest auto claims data, which shows a 5.5% reduction in collisions.
Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose...
Here's a list of upcoming events in our communities to continue celebrating the holiday season!
Benton
-
Join N4Cs for Brunch with Santa is THIS Saturday! Join from 10:00-12:00 for some fun Christmas activities, and a visit with Santa! This event is FREE and open to anyone. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the front desk 570-925-0163 or email Danielle at danielle@n4cs.org
Berwick
- 12/10 - 5:00pm - Winterfest in downtown Berwick
- 12/30 - Blood Drive at Glen Brook Health & Rehabilitation Center
Bloomsburg
- 12/7 - Holiday Open House at Brookdale Bloomsburg.
- 12/9, and 12/10 - Santa visits Renco Ace Hardware! Photos are free, but Renco is requesting consideration - that customers bring a nonperishable food item or monetary gift for AGAPE's Food Bank.
- 12/10 - Holiday Community Open House at Lions Gate.
- 12/11 - 13th Annual Community Free Christmas Dinner at the Caldwell Consistory.
Danville
- Since it rained during the Hometown Holiday Market event, Danville invites you to Late Shopper’s Night on Friday, December 9 from 6-8pm. Festivities include coffee & hot cocoa from Bason's Coffee Roasting in Canal Park or inside their store. Follow the Facebook event for more information.
Joy Through the Grove
- 11/25 - 12/31 - (Except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) 5:30pm - 9:00pm. Learn more.
A comprehensive list of holiday events is also available on the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau's website.
Service 1st Retirement & Investment Center to Offer Free "Road to Retirement" Webinar
MCKONLY & ASBURY HOSTING WEBINAR ON ETHICAL SKILLS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS
This free webinar on December 15th will discuss the unexpected benefits of an ethical work environment. Presenters will focus on ethical behaviors that set the “Tone at the Top” as well as employee’s personal benefits of peace of mind, trust, and good reputation. The webinar will also address the numerous employer benefits including improved employee morale, enhanced employee retention, increased employee productivity, and a greater focus on transparency throughout the organization. Click here to register.
Benton Area, Columbia County - Floodplain Survey Due December 30, 2022
In October 2022, Columbia County released a two-page hard copy floodplain survey to the Benton Area titled, “Moving Towards Resiliency and Mitigation.” The mailing also included a Survey Monkey link to complete online. All hardcopy and online survey submissions are due to be submitted by December 30, 2022. Additional information will be provided, when available, at SEDA-COG and Columbia County Resiliency websites - https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/columbia-county-flood-mitigation-studies/ and http://columbiapa.org/resiliency/index.php.
IMC Announces January Webinars
IMC has announced two (free) upcoming webinars, called "Training Within Industry - Foundations of Job Instruction" (January 10) and "Building an Innovative Enterprise - An Introduction to Design Thinking" (January 17)
Bloomsburg Area YMCA To Offer Adaptive Recreation
Representative Culver Opens Danville Office
Danville – State Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) invites residents of the 108th Legislative District to stop by her new Danville district office, which opened Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Montour County Administration Building, 435 E. Front St., Danville.
Effective December 1, Representative Culver represents all of Montour County due to redistricting. As part of the new 108th District, she will also serve as the voice in the state House for the City of Sunbury, as well as the following Northumberland County municipalities: the townships of Delaware, East Chillisquaque, Lewis, Point, Rockefeller, Rush, Turbot, Upper Augusta and West Chillisquaque; and the boroughs of McEwensville, Milton, Northumberland, Riverside, Snydertown, Turbotville and Watsontown.
The Danville office will be open weekdays from 1-4 p.m. Culver will also maintain her Sunbury district office at 300 Washington Ave., which is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and her Milton satellite office, which is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the borough office building at 2 Filbert St.
For more information about legislation, or any other state-related issue, contact Culver’s Sunbury district office by calling 570-286-5885, or toll-free at 1-800-924-9060. Information can also be found online at RepCulver.com or Facebook.com/RepCulver.
Representative Lynda Schlegel Culver
108th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
Slittle@pahousegop.com
LyndaCulver.com / Facebook.com/RepCulver
DOL Independent Contractor Rule Comments Due Friday
Source: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new regulation to determine whether someone should be classified as an "independent contractor" or an "employee" under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA). This new regulation would replace the regulation issued by the Trump administration that the U.S. Chamber supported. The proposal can be viewed here and comments are due to the Department of Labor by Tuesday, December 13.
The new regulation is heavily biased towards concluding that someone should be considered an employee. If an employer determines a worker should be classified as an independent contractor, the employer will not be confident that classification will be correct until the DOL approves it. The only way an employer can be confident in their classification decision is if they classify someone as an employee—the DOL will never question that decision.
Click here to read comments that explain the problems with the proposed regulation and call for its withdrawal. They are written broadly without specific industry references. If your organization wishes to be listed on these comments, please click here to sign your organization to the comment letter by the deadline this Friday, December 9 at 5:00 p.m.
Representative Millard Offers Farewell Message
Below, you'll find Representative David Millard's Farewell Message to his constituents, called "It's Time for Goodbye"
 |
"As I retire from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after eighteen years, I leave as a better person.
The confidence that you, my constituents, have placed in me has enabled me to have an honor of a lifetime: the opportunity to serve as your voice in state government.
That means the opportunity to participate in open debate and vote on legislation that ultimately affects nearly 13 million people. I always tried to put a face on every piece of legislation and question how it would impact that individual. This role is an awesome responsibility that I have never taken lightly.
My time in office has been a grand picture of the American Dream. I am living proof that if you work hard, opportunities will present themselves. I grew up a poor kid from a large family, whose mother was paralyzed from a stroke after I was born and a father who never took a nickel of welfare but worked two 8-hour jobs for 20 years to support his family. I’m the youngest of six kids, who each worked their way through institutions of higher learning and became career professionals. It took me twelve and a half years of night school to earn my bachelor’s degree. Although neither of my parents lived to see it, it was this work ethic established by my father that I brought to Harrisburg. And it has been my mission to give everyone back home an equal voice as their representative.
My legislative staff has been incredible – both in service to our constituents and in help to me. My district office team steers the ship in very busy district offices. I love passing on to them the many compliments I receive about how their knowledge and work truly helps so many people. All of my Capitol staff has been amazing as well.
I’m so pleased that Rep. Robert Leadbeter will be now taking the reins as representative for all of Columbia County. I wish him the very best.
Thank you again for allowing me to serve you."
###
Representative Millard, thank you again for your service to the region these last 18 years.
Department of Veterans Affairs to Launch Life Insurance Program
According the the VA, the new program will make life insurance available to more veterans than ever before.
WASHINGTON — On Jan. 1, 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs will open enrollment for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance — the first new VA life insurance program for Veterans in more than 50 years — extending VALife access to millions of Veterans.
VALife will provide up to $40,000 of whole life insurance for all Veterans, age 80 or under, with service-connected disabilities rated from 0-100%. Acceptance in the program is guaranteed, and no medical underwriting is required.
It will also allow Veterans to complete their application online, receive instant decisions, and perform self-service functions — including electronic payments and beneficiary updates.
“All Veterans deserve to know that their families will have financial support when they pass away,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “VALife is a critical step toward making that goal a reality, helping VA provide more life insurance to more Veterans than ever before in our nation’s history.”
VALife will increase Veteran access to life insurance in several ways:
- There is no time limit to apply: VA’s existing life insurance program for service-disabled Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance, required most Veterans to apply for insurance within 2 years of receiving their disability rating. VALife has no such time constraint for Veterans aged 80 and under.
- There is no health requirement to apply: Under S-DVI, Veterans had to be in good health except for service-connected conditions. VALife has no medical evaluation tied to it.
- Veterans are eligible for more coverage than before: Under S-DVI, most Veterans could only receive up to $10,000 of coverage. Under VALife, all Veterans are eligible for up to $40,000 of coverage.
VALife premium rates are competitive with, or better than, similar coverage available in the private sector, and $40,000 of coverage is more coverage than other like products offered. The policy will build cash value after the first two years of coverage when the face value goes into effect. If a Veteran passes away during this two-year waiting period, the named beneficiary will receive all premiums paid plus interest. Unlike S-DVI, Veterans will not be able to get a waiver for their premiums.
VA currently serves nearly 6 million Veterans, service members and their families with more than $1.2 trillion of insurance. Veterans currently enrolled in S-DVI will have the option to keep their current coverage or switch to VALife. These Veterans can apply for VALife at any time after Jan. 1, 2023; however, if they apply between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2025, they can also retain coverage under S-DVI during the two-year waiting period for the VALife death benefit to go into effect.
Veterans will no longer be able to apply for S-DVI after VALife launches Jan. 1, 2023. However, eligible Veterans still have the opportunity to apply for the program between now and Dec. 31, 2022.
To learn more, visit VALife. Information can also be found in the final rule, which posted for public inspection November 30.