News: Advocacy

We are extremely disappointed by Governor Wolf’s veto  of H.B. 1737 which was amended to include comprehensive, temporary, pandemic-related liability protections. Legislation to provide temporary relief by expanding liability provisions to protect businesses acting in good faith during these unprecedented times while following the guidelines outlined by the CDC, OSHA, and Commonwealth authorities has been…

State Budget: Today, Governor Tom Wolf signed into law House Bill 2536 and Senate Bill 1350. These bills provide funding for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s budget through June 30, 2021. The total appropriation for the fiscal year is $35.5 billion with $32.1 billion in state funds and $3.4 billion in federal stimulus dollars (including $1.3 billion of unallocated…

Legislation that would have created more certainty for dining establishments operating during the COVID-19 pandemic was vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday, Oct. 16. House Bill 2513, which passed with strong bipartisan support in the General Assembly, would have allowed restaurants that adhere to state and CDC-issued health guidance to operate at a minimum…

Governor Tom Wolf announced that an additional $96 million in state grants have been approved for 5,373 Pennsylvania small businesses that were impacted by the business closure order due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Businesses in every county were approved for grants in this round of funding, and 52 percent are historically disadvantaged businesses. To…

Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced Pennsylvania’s new overtime rule will become effective when the final, approved regulation is published in the PA Bulletin on Saturday, October 3, 2020. “Tomorrow marks the first update to the commonwealth’s overtime regulations in more than four  decades,” said Secretary Oleksiak. “The modernized regulation will expand…

TO: The Office of the Governor and Dauphin, Perry & Cumberland State DelegationsFROM: Dave Black, President & CEOMelissa Stone, Vice President of Economic DevelopmentTaylour Trostle, Government Relations DirectorDATE: October 1, 2020 As a member of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) and a catalyst for economic development within the greater region of Dauphin, Cumberland and…

Discussion began in earnest for the 4th COVID 19 Stimulus Bill. It’s important to realize regardless of what is reported by media that nothing is final until a proposal is passed by both House and Senate and signed by the President. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability…

As House Republican leadership has helped facilitate one of the most successful session periods in the modern history of the chamber, new leaders were elected today who reflect the next generation of voices to lead Pennsylvania’s House Republican Caucus. “This group spanning varied backgrounds, experiences and regions of our Commonwealth reflect what Pennsylvanians have been…

TO: Dauphin, Perry & Cumberland State and Federal DelegationsFROM: Dave Black, President & CEO; Taylour Trostle, Government Relations Director, Harrisburg Regional ChamberDATE: May 21, 2020 On behalf of our Board of Directors and our members with over 120,000 employees, who like you, are trying to sort out the current health risks and the future of…