HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 3, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry today expressed disappointment with Gov. Ed Rendell's veto of legislation that would have ensured that the impact of state regulatory mandates on small business is considered before they are imposed.
"Small businesses help drive the economy, yet they continue to face more and more obstacles in the effort to compete and provide jobs for residents," said Jim Welty, PA Chamber vice president of Legislative and Corporate Affairs. "Complying with increasing government mandates is particularly costly for small business. This is money that could be better spent to hire workers, purchase equipment and improve operations."
Welty said involving small business owners in the regulatory process would foster the development of effective alternatives to state mandates that would meet desired regulatory needs in a more cost-effective way.
"This latest veto is another slap at the business community and is a good indicator why Pennsylvania is ranked 45th in the recent Forbes magazine 'Economic Freedom' survey," said Welty. "If we continue in this direction, it won't be long before the Commonwealth stands alone as the worst place in which to do business.
"With a new legislative session about to begin and a new budget process forthcoming, we urge the administration to look at the broad, long-term picture of how the various policies it is advancing will impact Pennsylvania's job creators, and encourage them to work with us, not against us."
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association and the fastest growing state chamber in the United States, with more than 10,000 members covering all 67 counties. More information is available on the Chamber's website at www.pachamber.org
The PA Chamber of Business and Industry logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=353