It's About The Jobs

Even though the state Senate will not be back in voting session until next Monday, Sept. 19, this week is still a busy one for committees—particularly in Pittsburgh. 

On Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing to consider the impact of budget cuts on the University of Pittsburgh.  Tuesday, the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee will held a hearing to accept testimony regarding the ongoing contractual dispute between Highmark and UPMC and Highmark's

Today, the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 10, legislation that will change how alternate transportation companies receive approval in the Port Authority service area. In the afternoon, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission will be hearing testimony from citizens about reapportionment. On Thursday, the Senate Law & Justice Committee hosts a hearing on House Bill 242, which creates limited distillery licenses.

While each of these is an important issue, I’m struck by the fact that the focus of the General Assembly is not on what is perhaps most important in our Commonwealth right now—jobs. 

Pennsylvania has been lucky as our economy is better than many of our neighboring states, but our unemployment rate is beginning to grow (7.8 percent in July—last available) with 494,000 residents looking for jobs. Our central focus for the fall agenda should be on the economy and creating jobs, but I have yet to see any evidence of attention being given to that issue. 

In fact, if recent news articles are any indication, House and Senate leadership will be focused on school choice vouchers and liquor privatization.

In 2006, Governor Rendell’s Transportation Funding & Reform Commission confirmed that our transportation and highway and bridge systems were in crisis. The commission recommended $900 million in additional funding for highway and bridges and $760 million in targeted public transit funding. 

The work of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission just recently reiterated that need, for work as well as capital costs. Now, because of the flooding in central and northern PA, at least nine bridges will require full replacement and there are ongoing inspections of another 2,000 state-owned bridges going on currently. The cost of the damage has been estimated at $150 million to $400 million.

I wrote recently about transportation and how infusing funds into our transportation system now will result in jobs. Every $100 in infrastructure investment returns $350 to our economy. Every $1 billion in highway and bridge improvements supports 30,000 jobs.  Every $1 we invest in public transportation generates $4 in new economic activity. These are jobs that are family-sustaining and can make a real impact in our region. It is long past time that we address this issue.

As we discuss and debate the problems facing us, we need to maximize the use of existing state resources and take advantage of new opportunities before us that will build our economy. Jobs must be priority number one. 

I am committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that creating and retaining good-paying jobs is part of any discussion that we have at the state level—and pledge to work with my colleagues to accomplish that this fall.