PITTSBURGH, May 27, 2021 – Chaired by State Senator John Yudichak (I-14), the Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee held a hearing today at the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Pittsburgh on “Government Barriers to Manufacturing Growth in Pennsylvania.” Senator Devlin Robinson (R-37), a member of the committee, hosted the hearing.
Committee members discussed job-stifling regulations, economic development reform and tax incentives, among other issues.
“The state’s unemployment rate continues to trail behind other states as Pennsylvania emerges from the COVID pandemic,” said Senator Yudichak. “Pennsylvania’s working-class families are losing good paying manufacturing jobs at an alarming rate because of growing government barriers.”
“We received valuable insight today from numerous manufacturing, economic development and labor force stakeholders about steps that all levels of government – local, county, state and federal – can take to become partners in manufacturing growth, instead of adversaries,” concluded Yudichak.
“I appreciate Senator Yudichak and his willingness to bring this discussion to Pittsburgh,” said Senator Robinson. “Recently Pittsburgh has taken its share of economic blows during the last several weeks. Local employers are making choices about how their futures in Pennsylvania will look. It’s important that we take a deep dive in to the role of government in how those decisions are playing out. We need to focus on how we are going to create a stronger environment for job growth through regulatory reforms.”
Jenn Beer, Vice President of Government Affairs of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce testified on how the Commonwealth could be in the best position possible to compete in order to retain and attract businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector.
“We believe that the Commonwealth should focus on two tracks in order to assist business growth, which will lead to greater equitable economic growth for the Commonwealth as well: 1.) reform the state’s uncompetitive business tax structure, and 2.) implement policies that will aid and encourage business growth in the post-pandemic world,” Beer testified.
David Taylor, President and CEO of the PA Manufacturers Association, focused on Pennsylvania’s most immediate challenges facing the manufacturing sector in his testimony as well as an opportunity that Pennsylvania has to deliver broad-based, sustained economic growth in the Commonwealth.
“Our most immediate challenges are in the areas of building the workforce and improving our regulatory environment. As we work to overcome these challenges, we can also see that Pennsylvania’s energy-enabled manufacturing economy has the potential to generate an abundance of value-added goods, family-sustaining jobs, and economic dynamism,” Taylor testified.
Other testifiers included Jeff Nobers, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Works Together and Drew Simpson, Regional Manager for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Ann Tumolo, Government Affairs with PPG Industries and Eileen Anderson, Director of Government Relations, PA Manufacturer and Business Association also participated as panelists at the hearing.
A video of the hearing is available here: https://pasen.wistia.com/medias/pfsa5vp23m
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