PA Business Groups Offer Budget Ideas

A coalition of business association and groups unveiled their recommendations for reforming Pennsylvania's budget process and improving the business climate:

• Oppose increasing taxes on the job creators, including the Personal Income Tax rate and the Sales and Use Tax.
• Cut spending:
• Evaluate and consolidate cabinet departments
• Evaluate and consolidate other executive agencies and boards
• Evaluate and consolidate or eliminate Legislative commissions and service agencies
• Consolidate the multiple dozens of workforce development/job training programs
• Eliminate the Opportunity Grant program
• The PRIME Initiative report should be used as a roadmap for additional taxpayer savings.
• Empower a “Grace Commission” to address costs.
• Limit General Fund spending growth.
• Limit irresponsible debt.
• Adopt zero-based budgeting.
• Reinstate “sunset” review and termination.
• Conduct performance audits. 

The Bulletin has a news story on the Press Conference .