Senate Leader Discusses Accomplishments, Goals
With the 2011-2012 legislative session set to expire at the end of the month, Radio PA’s Matt Paul took a look back at the past two years with state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester/Delaware) in a wide-ranging interview. Calling it an extremely productive session, Pileggi says jobs were the top legislative issue and the most important jobs bills are the ones that will have long-lasting effects.
“The continued phase out of the capital stock and franchise tax, in both the 11/12 & 12/13 [fiscal] years, we continued that phase out,” Pileggi says. “Just in this past year we eliminated the death tax on family farms. We’ve also updated the film tax credit program and actually added a new tax credit for historic buildings.”
Pileggi also cites Pennsylvania’s Fair Share Act and expanded Keystone Opportunity Zone program as important jobs bills from this past session.
Looking ahead to the 2013-2014 legislative session, Pileggi the biggest jobs issue is transportation funding. It would obviously provide short term jobs in the form of construction projects. “Longer-term I think every serious observer agrees that an effective transportation infrastructure – both for cars & trucks and mass transit – is necessary for a competitive environment for job creators,” Pileggi explains.
He also tells us the Senate will be ready to move forward with a package of bills to address the state’s pension crisis within the first six months of 2013.
Earlier this month, newly-elected and returning Republican senators tapped Pileggi for his fourth term as Senate GOP Leader.
