July 2011 - BIPAC

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Budget Energy Environment Health Care Infrastructure Labor Legal Tax Workforce DEFINING SUCCESS We must increase infrastructure replacement, development, and funding. Among the goals: Maintenance of current roads and bridges. Maintenance of mass transit systems. Maintenance and expansion of water and sewer systems. Expansion of energy transmission systems. Expanded rail systems and intermodal operations. GETTING IN THE GAME Please attend the September 12, <strong>2011</strong> edition of the Mandatory Monday Morning Briefing featuring PennDot Secretary Barry Schoch. Look for more information on this coming soon! Representative Richard Geist (R-Blair) introduced HB 3, a bill that would provide for public-private partnerships (P3s) regarding transportation infrastructure. The business community encourages greater private investment in improvements to our infrastructure systems by removing regulatory hurdles and providing long -term regulatory certainty. Enacting legislation for P3s – especially for adding additional capacity to current systems, will benefit Pennsylvania. However the bill was amended to include problematic language that applies prevailing wage in all P3 transportation projects. The business community supports HB 3, so long as the amendment including prevailing wage is stricken. The bill is currently in the House Transportation Committee. Pennsylvania’s infrastructure is crumbling and there is a lack of funds in this year’s budget to address the problem. Thousands of bridges have been rated “structurally deficient” by engineers because of their age and heavy use. In addition, Pennsylvania’s businesses and industries rely on our transportation network to move people and goods. The business community has been in favor of increasing vehicle registration fees, license fees, and even an increase in the gas tax. However, due to Governor Corbett’s no tax pledge these options are considered, off the table. Current PennDot Secretary, Barry Schoch, has been on record as saying the budget shortfall for transportation infrastructure is $3 billion. Pennsylvania Business Council 116 Pine Street, Suite 201 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 717-232-8700 www.pabusinesscouncil.org
Budget Energy Environment Health Care Infrastructure Labor Legal Tax Workforce DEFINING SUCCESS Limit UC to temporary, partial benefits based on actual earnings with eligibility restricted to persons unemployed through no fault of their own. Fairly compute employer UC contributions through an experience rating calculation. Compel those applying for UC benefits to register for employment search services, counseling and re-training through Pa CareerLink; and to accept work if it is offered. Adjust and limit Pennsylvania UC benefits to account for other benefits such as employer-paid severance benefits. Create a fair Workers’ Compensation Law that aims to return employees to productive, gainful employment, while providing adequate but not excessive benefits for work-related occupational injuries and illnesses. Eliminate Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for Public Projects Reform prevailing wage law to reflect market realities and with modern thresholds. End compulsory unionism. GETTING IN THE GAME Pennsylvania Business Council Education Foundation Employment Law and Labor Policy Series: -Harrisburg, September 7 -Pittsburgh, September 15 -Philadelphia, September 22 On June 17, the Governor signed Act 6 into law codifying the Legislature’s efforts on Senate Bill 1030, an Unemployment Compensation bill sponsored by Senator Gordner (R-Columbia). Besides providing some reform measures to Unemployment Compensation Law, SB 1030 also ensured the continuation of a federally funded 13-week extension of Unemployment Compensation benefits to about 45,000 Pennsylvanians who qualify. SB 1030 amends the Unemployment Compensation Law to provide circumstances for which an employer may be relieved of paying Unemployment Compensation benefits. For example, if work was lost due to willful misconduct connected to that work by the employee, the employer would not have to compensate that individual. SB 1030 also defines the definition of the term “credit week” to read, “any week in which the employee is paid not less than $100 (to expire December 31, 2014) and starting in 2015 the definition is 16 times the minimum hourly wage required by the Minimum Wage Act.” The Act also forces those receiving unemployment benefits to actively search for a new job by posting resumes and responding to “help wanted ads” on the State’s CareerLink website. This legislation will slow the growth of the Unemployment Compensation fund; saving an average of $133 million per year over the next four years. However, the business community knows, and the Governor agrees – more needs to be done. "This legislation is a good and important step toward reforming our Unemployment Compensation Law. While these reforms will benefit employers and the workforce, there remains more to do, in the long-term, to restore the trust fund's solvency and repay our federal loans." The Pennsylvania Business Council will be hosting an Employment Law and Labor Policy Summit Series in September. The first summit will be hosted in Harrisburg on September 7, followed by a summit in Pittsburgh on September 15, and the rubber match will be in Philadelphia on September 22. All three summits will feature panels of expert attorneys, lawmakers, administration staff, and association executives. Check out the “Getting in the Game” section of this page for more information. Click here fore more information. Pennsylvania Business Council 116 Pine Street, Suite 201 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101 717-232-8700 www.pabusinesscouncil.org
Page 1 and 2: July 2011 Budget Energy Environment
Page 3 and 4: Budget Energy Environment Health Ca
Page 5: Budget Energy Environment Health Ca
Page 9 and 10: Budget Energy Environment Health Ca

July 2011 - BIPAC

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?