Governor Corbett’s third budget proposal continues a restraint in pubic spending that over the past two years eliminated a $4.2 billion deficit without raising taxes.

“We stopped our fiscal cliff before it even had a name,” Governor Corbett said in his address before the General Assembly on February 5. “And we didn’t do it by raising taxes and increasing spending.”

The Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association announced its support for Governor Corbett’s 2013-14 budget. 

“Governor Corbett’s budget plan sets the course for expanding Pennsylvania’s economic growth,” said PMA Executive Director David N. Taylor. “It continues his leadership of fiscal discipline and recognizes that private sector job growth is essential for the future prosperity of our commonwealth.”

The 2013-14 legislative session, with 23 new lawmakers, began on January 1 under a constitutional requirement that swearing in occur the first Tuesday in January. The new members will have little time to adjust to the rules and routine as they will have to embrace transportation funding, liquor privatization, another tight budget, and we at PMA hope they will tackle key business issues left over from last year.

Lawmakers sworn in on January 1st to kick off the 2013-14 legislative session have an opportunity to act with no delay on a pro-growth agenda already vetted by industry, labor, and both political parties. The agenda was approved in August by the Governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council (GMAC).

Toomey Report: Manufacturers Face Job-Killing Tax Hike Under Obama Plan

While excuses continue to be made for President Obama’s dismal record on job creation, it’s more difficult to rationalize a policy that actually drives jobs away.

A report prepared by U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Lehigh) shows that the Administration’s tax policies will undermine the very sector that has the strongest multiplier effect on job growth - manufacturing.

A planned tax increase in 2013 will raise the marginal rates on many manufacturers from 35 percent to 41 percent.