|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
PA Chamber urges co-sponsorship of UC reform legislation
Bill is a step in right direction for employees and employers The PA Chamber of Business and Industry is calling on state lawmakers to co-sponsor legislation being introduced by Rep. Scott Perry, R-Cumberland/York, that would bring about meaningful reforms to the state’s Unemployment Compensation Law. . “This legislation goes a long way in restoring balance, fairness and competitiveness to a system that today offers none of the above,” PA Chamber Government Affairs Director Sam Denisco said. “This bill is a step in the right direction for employees and employers, and will make Pennsylvania more competitive with its neighboring states.” The PA Chamber recently sent a memo to state House lawmakers asking for their support of the legislation once it is formally introduced. The bill contains many provisions supported by PA Chamber member businesses. The state’s UC Trust Fund is currently insolvent, thanks to a combination of liberalized benefit payouts and recent economic devastations resulting from the recession. The system is essentially paying out more than it takes in, and while Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is lower than most other states, it is second (behind California) in UC benefit dollars paid out. Pennsylvania has now had to borrow nearly $3 billion to date from the Federal Unemployment Account to be able to continue paying benefits. Borrowing could reach $7 billion by 2017. The PA Chamber has long advocated for rational and sensible reforms to the UC system that would continue to alleviate the economic hardships of the involuntarily unemployed and reduce the impact of unemployment on the economy while providing consistency and predictability for employers and incentives for beneficiaries to return to work. “The system needs to achieve a balance between security and incentives, while reining in future costs to ensure solvency,” Denisco said. The PA Chamber represents the business community on the state’s UC Advisory Council and has joined a coalition of business and trade groups to urge Congress to enact measures that would help states deal with UC solvency issues. Read more here. ### Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state’s largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business. |
| Archived articles |
| Copyright © 2006 Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry |