Letter to the Editor: PA’s Credit Downgrade
July 30, 2014
Letter to the Editor: Credit downgrade clear warning Pa. needs to act now on pension crisis This week’s announcement that Moody’s has downgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone here in the Keystone State. For months, financial analysts have been warning lawmakers that the commonwealth’s growing pension deficit was raising serious ...
The Right Way to Grow Tax Revenue
June 25, 2014
A story that got five seconds on the evening news and just a few paragraphs of ink on page three deserves a lot more attention. The latest figures from the Department of Labor & Industry show that the state’s unemployment level under Governor Tom Corbett now stands at 5.6 percent. It’s the lowest level in ...
New-Hires Refuse or Fail Drug Tests
June 10, 2014 | Labor Issues | Workforce/Education
One-third of all applicants are ineligible for good-paying jobs in Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector due to drug use or drug test avoidance, according to a new study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association and conducted by Tel Opinion Research. The survey of 200 manufacturing business executives focused on their companies’ experience with drug testing and its ...
End Payroll Deduction of Union Dues
June 06, 2014 | Labor Issues
Testimony presented to the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee in support of House Bill 1507 Presented by: David N. Taylor, Executive Director Thank you, Chairman Metcalfe, Chairman Cohen, and members of the House State Government Committee. My name is David N. Taylor and I am the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association. We ...
PMA Perspective: PA Revenue
June 03, 2014 | Business Tax Relief
This episode focuses on the revenue side of the budget equation. PMA’s Carl Marrara travels to Bellefonte, PA to discuss this the upcoming budget debate with Chairman of the House Finance Committee, Representative Kerry Benninghoff. David Taylor then has a news-maker interview with Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Dan Meuser, to examine why ...
Governor Corbett Continues Reform Agenda
April 24, 2014 | Limits on Lawsuit Abuse | Regulatory Reform
Reforming state government continues to be a big part of Tom Corbett’s agenda. As Attorney General he investigated and prosecuted lawmakers of both parties who used taxpayers’ money and state time for political campaigning, including the “Bonusgate” scandal. In his bid for a second four-year term as governor, he cites past reform accomplishments and additional ...
The Rising Political Clout of the Leadership Conference
April 10, 2014
The Rising Political Clout of the Leadership Conference It was a loss that led to a resurgence. When Pat Toomey lost the Senate Republican nomination for Senate in 2004, Fred Anton decided it was time to breathe new life into the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference (PLC). Established in 1989 on the Conservative Political Action Conference model, ...
Ron Miller said that a 2012 US Chamber of Commerce study entitled “Sabotage, Stalking and Stealth Exemptions: Special State Law for Labor Unions” alerted him to the special union carve-out. Pennsylvania stands out in the study, but is certainly not alone. Illinois, California, Nevada, and Wisconsin have similar laws protecting bad actors. The study notes ...
Governor Corbett Basic Ed Formula
February 19, 2014
Governor Corbett Backs “More Equitable” Funding Method in Basic Ed Formula Governor Tom Corbett recently said that Pennsylvania’s school funding systems should be changed to “a true funding system” that is fair to all schools. On January 14, the House cleared legislation, House Bill 1738, sponsored by Bernie O’Neill (R-29), that establishes a bipartisan ...
Energy Equals Jobs and Plenty of Them
January 29, 2014 | Energy
Governor Corbett’s energy plan stems from a fundamental belief and trust in the job creation benefits of a free market system. It also recognizes that our energy industry, by safely drilling in the Marcellus Shale, is leading the way in creating jobs.. Figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: Nearly 242,000 new hires in ...