OntheHill
DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Lori Joint
MBA Representatives Meet with Lawmakers to Lobby for Pro-Growth, Pro-Business Agenda Anna McCauslin is the state government relations representative for the Manufacturer & Business Association in Harrisburg. Contact her at 717/525-7213 or amccauslin@mbausa.org.
Editor’s Note: Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) Board of Governors Immediate Past Chairman Dan Ignasiak, president of SEPCO-Erie, and Association Vice Chairman Dale Deist, founder of Deist Industries, recently traveled to Harrisburg to discuss the MBA’s pro-growth, pro-business agenda with 10 different legislators and policy makers in the state capital. The MBA group, which also included Association President Ralph Pontillo, Director of Government Affairs Lori Joint and Government Affairs Representative Anna McCauslin, focused on four important issues – right-to-work legislation, education funding, Governor Corbett’s budget proposal and lawsuit abuse reform. According to McCauslin, here is what they learned: Since the Republican takeover in Congress as well as the Pennsylvania General Assembly, there seems to be a complete lack of leadership on the right side of the aisle, with no cohesive strategy and no defined goals to achieve. There also are seemingly many divisions in the Grand Old Party that are threatening to sink the ship. For this new General Assembly to be effective, each party needs to work together and pass the real reforms that businesses need to stay in this state. For example: Right to Work While right-to-work legislation is one of MBA members’ most important issues, it doesn’t appear to be on lawmakers’ radar any time soon. At every meeting, including one with advocate and right-to-work prime sponsor Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Association representatives heard the same answer – it won’t happen this year. As such, the MBA will continue to voice its support of the legislation and educate the business community on ways to get involved. Still, there are pieces of legislation being introduced that will curb union power, and they may have a better chance than all-inclusive right to work.
June 30; however, an unlikely uptick in revenue has Republicans in a quandary. Until the budget is passed, the state is operating with a nearly $4-billion deficit and Governor Corbett has repeatedly stated the general fund will spend no more than $27.3 billion. Yet Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman (R-Centre) believes the state will spend an estimated over projection of $504 billion on projects, not debt relief or closing the deficit hole. The Fair Share Act The House passed the Fair Share Act in April. However, it is not a done deal. The biggest roadblock is Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the longest-serving Republican senator. It is now time to lean on the Republican leadership — namely President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) — to get the bill out of committee and onto the floor for a full vote. In Summary While we are not completely satisfied with all that we have seen and believe things are moving at slower pace than expected, the Association's Government Affairs Department continues to advocate for our members on these and other key issues. That is why we encourage you to stay informed by visiting the MBA Government Affairs website at www.mbausa.org, signing up to receive our daily and weekly newsletters, and supporting our legislative efforts to lobby on your behalf. Because, it’s only by letting our members’ voices be heard that the Association can effect real change in the halls of our state Capitol and get Pennsylvania back to its former greatness as a business friendly state.
Education Education has been one of the most discussed topics on The Hill. However, the reality of the situation — which is being lost among the outcries of teachers unions and the like — is that Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed budget actually increases spending to public education. Former Governor Ed Rendell decreased public education funding over two budget cycles and filled the hole with federal stimulus monies. Now that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has expired, Corbett is raising education spending by the $500 million that the former governor cut. Budget The budget — including the governor's Association-supported spending plan and no tax pledge — is required to be passed by
From left: Association Board of Governors Vice Chairman Dale Deist, Immediate Past Chairman Dan Ignasiak, Government Affairs Director Lori Joint, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, Government Affairs Representative Anna McCauslin and Association President Ralph Pontillo. July 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 17