PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
PAtownhall.com
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
Pennsylvania's Marketplace of Ideas
by Susan Staub,
President, PA Right to Work
The re-awakening of our fellow citizens as evidenced by the 2006 election results is an indication of renewed interest by Pennsylvanians. People across the Commonwealth made it clear that they wanted a new direction. They decided that the "status quo" wasn't working. Certainly, private sector job creators agreed. The question we face now is: "What, exactly, has changed?"
The balance of power in the state legislature did shift. Pro-growth policies are beginning to occur, but not as rapidly as we'd like. The fact remains that the possibility to make a difference does exist for Pennsylvanians. The emergence of voters demanding that strength in public policy replace weaknesses also has highlighted the threats that our fellow citizens feel in our daily lives. Opportunities exist for change. As we enter 2008, major issues still confront us.
Businesses have too many taxes, an unrelenting regulatory burden, and continue to struggle because of it. Our citizens are burdened by local, state and federal taxes, excessive government spending, and are dismayed by the loss of their individual freedoms to pursue their own objectives to make the most of their own potential.
So, are we moving forward? The answer is that we could be if our elected officials will respond with public policy changes that make a difference.
Here are some of the issues that must be addressed for our 12.3 million citizens to realize the changes they wanted when they went to the polls in 2006:
TAXES AND GOVERNMENT SPENDING – Pennsylvania has some of the highest business taxes in the nation, which stymies job growth. According to statistics from the Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg, while state spending has increased by 28% during the current administration, we rank an unhealthy "40th in job growth, 35th in personal income growth, and 42nd in population growth among the 50 states."
While pro-job growth legislators did not receive the praise they deserved, the fact is that hard-working lawmakers stopped seven tax increases proposed by the administration in the 2007 budget. That should give us hope that the culture in the Capitol is changing. Certainly, the legislators who worked hard against those tax increases deserve our praise.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES and INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS – We Americans cherish the right and privilege to a secret ballot in any election. This is especially true in determining our futures in the work place – whether it is in the public or private sector. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that only about 12% of American workers now belong to labor unions (compared to 35% in 1945) and fewer than 10% of individuals in the private sector have chosen to join a labor union. Private sector union membership across Pennsylvania is now less than 14% of all eligible employees.
Since 2006, however, union officials have "ramped up" their demand for what they have misleadingly titled the "Employee Free Choice Act" in Congress. What this really would do for the first time in our Nation's history is eliminate the secret ballot in union representation elections and require businesses to submit to binding arbitration if contracts are not settled. This egregious legislation must not become law! Because of the leadership of the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, and business and grassroots organizations around the Commonwealth and across the Nation, it was stalled in 2007. But it could return at any time.
In a startlingly candid statement of why union bosses are turning away from the traditional secret ballot, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union president Joe Hansen said, because "we can't win that way anymore." (www.Centerforunionfacts.com).
The Wall Street Journal Online said, "…some 80% of voters are against the forced unionization measure. It strikes average Americans as unfair." While the "card-check" measure to eliminate the secret ballot (and replace it with a non-secret signature on a card) passed the U.S. House, it is stalled in the U.S. Senate by a "cloture" vote of 48 to 51 with 60 votes needed to defeat it. Senators Specter (R) and Casey (D) both voted "yea."
These two issues underscore that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Weaknesses in public policy must be replaced by strengths. Threats continue to have to be dealt with by all of us who know that freedom and jobs go hand in hand. Most importantly, we must work together to expand opportunity for our job creators, which, in turn, will elevate and enhance the lives of our fellow Pennsylvanians.
It is our organization's privilege and my honor to work with the leaders and members of the Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association. I am grateful for the opportunity you have provided me to contribute to your Member Journal and, as always, I welcome your comments and inquiries at any time.
We are convinced that 2008 will provide all of us the opportunity to move Pennsylvania forward. It is in that spirit that we wish each of you a healthy and prosperous New Year.
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Contact Mrs. Staub at SStaub@PARightToWork.org for more information or to arrange a speaking engagement for your group or organization. Or visit their website at www.PARightToWork.org.
Pennsylvanians for Right to Work is not affiliated with any other Right to Work organization.
