Last week, the PA Chamber organized and participated in several events across the state last week to commemorate the enactment of monumental tax reform that lowers the state’s corporate net income tax rate and encourages growth and investment by small businesses.
On Monday, Aug. 8, Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the PA Chamber, joined Gov. Tom Wolf and Kevin Schreiber, president of the York County Economic Alliance, along with both Republican and Democratic members of the state house – Appropriations Chairman Stan Saylor and Representatives Greg Rothman, Mary Jo Daley and Carol Hill-Evans – to discuss what the reforms mean for the state, its competitiveness and working families. At the event, Gov. Wolf noted “we wouldn’t be where we are today without the leadership of the Pennsylvania Chamber.” A full video and photos from the event can be found here, and key quotes from the event, including from the PA Chamber, are noted in the Governor’s press release.
The following day, the PA Chamber held an event with the Lancaster Chamber and the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, along with House Speaker Bryan Cutler, Senator Ryan Aument, Brent Vernon with the Governor’s Action Team and business leaders from the Lancaster area. PA Chamber CEO Luke Bernstein noted that “We’re here as proof that with bipartisan collaboration and a strong partnership between the public and private sector, we can accomplish great things for the commonwealth.” Sen. Aument noted his support for accelerating the phasedown of the CNIT rate over the next few years, and Lisa Riggs, president of the economic development company, said the reforms will allow “small businesses and entrepreneurs [to] focus on investing in their people, operations and communities.”
On Thursday, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and Republican Senate Majority Leader Kim War convened a roundtable with local business leaders, including from the Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, PPG, and the PA Chamber’s member executive Bill Miller.
The leaders from the Pittsburgh business community noted how the reforms will increase investment in Pennsylvania and create more opportunity for underrepresented communities. Leaders also discussed how the small business tax reforms will facilitate increased economic activity in the state.