An open letter from NFIB's State Director in Pennsylvania to Governor Tom Wolf
As volunteers recover from an intense mid-term campaign season and pundits analyze Tuesday’s election results, the governance that will lead to a successful economic future for Pennsylvania comes back into view. Voters from across the state have made their selections, and the result is a return to divided government both in Washington and closer to home in Harrisburg. In such times, activists call for throwing up roadblocks to bring the legislative process to a standstill. But the issues we face together are just as important and the need for action just as pressing.
As Pennsylvania State Director of NFIB, the leading small business advocacy association in our state and nation, I extend congratulations to you, Governor Wolf, on your re-election, and wish you success over the next four years. It is good to know you come from a business background in York County–the county where nearly seven-hundred NFIB members are currently running their small and independent businesses every day and contributing to the economy. Our organization represents 12-thousand such businesses across Pennsylvania who hope, as a group, their voice will be heard in the state capital.
Pennsylvania has participated in the strong national economic growth we have seen in the last two years after passage of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. NFIB research shows that nationally, small businesses are expanding, creating additional jobs, and paying higher wages as business owners struggle to find enough qualified employees. It is good news we should all celebrate. Beyond partisan considerations, objective measures show that we are in an economic expansion of historic proportions. Strong business growth is “the tide that lifts all ships.” Let’s work to make sure this trend continues in the Commonwealth.
Governor Wolf, it is our mission to keep the small business surge going, and work to prevent obstacles to growth. Improving the small business climate in Pennsylvania is a goal we may share since it will lead to an increased tax base, a more robust state economy, and job creation. While acknowledging that differences of viewpoint will exist, we believe that beyond such differences lay many areas of potential policy cooperation which could be pursued for the benefit of all.
Pennsylvania Small businesses face higher costs from labor mandates, increased taxes, and regulatory compliance. They need a workforce able to fit into the jobs they are creating, which frequently require computer and social skills. Excessive government-required paperwork is a time-consuming burden. I extend an invitation to you to visit some of NFIB’s small businesses and speak face to face with the entrepreneurs who built them about these issues, or with the family members who keep them going for generations.
Sincerely,
Gordon Denlinger
NFIB’s Pennsylvania State Director
