FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul J. Gough, SMC Business Councils. (412) 342-1610 or paul@smc.org
Pennsylvania Small Business Heard in Harrisburg
Small businesses from central and western Pennsylvania brought its message to Legislative leaders at the State Capitol during SMC Business Councils' annual Harrisburg grassroots lobbying trip on Monday.
SMC's message: Reduce health care costs, cut taxes and government spending, and improve access to the capital that small businesses need to survive, grow and prosper in today's economy. Legislators and their representatives were given copies of SMC's white paper and used their experiences to provide the business perspective that is rarely seen in Harrisburg. SMC's positions on the issues are designed to boost jobs, help small businesses and don't require any additional outlay by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These are all key points for a state that is under a financial crisis.
Tom Henschke, acting president of SMC Business Councils, said reducing health care costs and improving access to capital were a big part of what SMC members told legislators. They also stressed good fiscal management in the Commonwealth.
"Now is not the time to be raising taxes on small business in Pennsylvania. The state government needs to do what all small businesses have had to do during this economic downturn, which is to do more with less," Henschke said. "The message to legislators is to cut government spending in the Commonwealth."
The trip, an annual tradition stretching back almost two decades, included representation from many of the 45 counties where SMC members live and work. The small businesspeople who participated -- representing manufacturing, commercial and service companies -- gave an entire workday to speak to legislators and other government officials about what the state government can do to help small businesses in the state.
“This trip is the heart and soul of what we do here at SMC. It’s where the action is,” said Eileen Anderson, SMC’s government relations manager who organized the trip’s many details. “Small business owners meet lawmakers at the levers of power and articulate their concerns. Lawmakers meet the business owners in the trenches who create private sector jobs.”
SMC board chair Cookie Driscoll of C. Cookie Driscoll Inc. of Fairfield, has regularly attended the Harrisburg and Washington lobbying trips. She said the trips have value for SMC and its members as well as for her small business.
"What we do really does work. It may take a while. We don't get the results we want right away. But eventually they do hear us and they do act on what we give them," Driscoll said.
"It's really important that legislators see us here, more than just one voice but a group of voices talking about the issues," said Marilyn Landis, president of Basic Business Concepts in Pittsburgh and immediate past chair of the SMC Business Councils. "We can send letters. We can send emails. But they respect the fact that we took the time to be here."
Dan Galbraith of Solutionist in Greensburg, who is also chair-elect of SMC Business Councils, noted that small businesses account for 50% of Pennsylvania's private-sector employment, 98% of its employers and 58% of new employment. But rising health care costs, the burden of taxes and regulations and the lack of access to capital are hurting the engine that is small business in Pennsylvania.
"I was pleased with the positive reception we received in the various legislative offices we visited from both sides of the aisle," Galbraith said. "I was not surprised, though, because it's only common sense to support the lifeblood of the Commonwealth. SMC's points seemed to hit home with legislators. I just hope their actions mirror their words."
The day began with a presentation to SMC members by Joe Martin, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. Martin talked to members about how PHC4's work on quality and cost of health care has helped the Commonwealth, its businesses and residents save money.
For more information on SMC Business Councils and its positions on small business and job creation, contact Eileen Anderson, SMC's government relations manager, at (412) 342-1606 or eileenanderson@smc.org.
For the past 65 years, SMC Business Councils has helped Pennsylvania businesses join together to foster mutual interests. With offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, SMC has thousands of members in the service, manufacturing, and commercial sectors. A nonprofit organization, SMC's professional staff operates a variety of business advocacy and development programs and services exclusively for the benefit of member companies. Find SMC on the Web at smc.org.
