Robbins: Senate Republican Policy Committee Holds Hearing in Greenville

NW PA Business Climate, Agriculture, and Law Enforcement Issues Discussed

Greenville, PA: State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) recently hosted a Senate Republican Policy Committee hearing at Thiel College, located in Greenville, PA. The hearing -- which featured testimony of area leaders -- focused on the business climate, agricultural, and law enforcement issues.

The Committee, chaired by Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25), travels throughout the state to hold hearings on issues of importance. The Committee, in turn, brings those issues back to the Senate Republican Caucus for possible legislative action.

"I would like to thank the Committee for holding this hearing in the 50th Senatorial District," said Sen. Robbins. "I would also like to thank the panelists for taking the time to participate and telling us what works, what concerns they have, and in what areas the General Assembly can help."

The Business Climate Panel consisted of Charlie Anderson (Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce), Charles Buenzli (Novocell Semiconductor), James Conner (Conner Construction), James Lowry (Greenville Area Economic Development Corp.), and Robert McCracken (Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce).

Sen. Robbins stated, "The message I heard is that there are problems, particularly with workers' compensation where subcontractors have to be covered. This is ultimately a tax on business. When you lower taxes on job creators; the state gets more dollars. As such, I am working to make our business tax structure more competitive; small business regulations more flexible; and health care more affordable."

The Agriculture Panel featured testimony by George Greig (Crawford County Farm Bureau), Gary Micsky (Penn State Cooperative Extension of Mercer County), Chester Tau (Crawford County Grange), and Roger Wascher (Dean Dairy Products). Two concepts that were discussed were the start-up of an ethanol plant in Crawford County and a possible dairy farm incubator in Northwest Pennsylvania.

"We have had lots of discussion on the ethanol project, but have not been kept up to speed on the dairy farm incubator concept," said Robbins. "I have often found that when someone comes in and puts their dollars and their efforts into a project and then the government comes in to assist, the project works. When government money comes in upfront with little assistance or buy-in from others, the project typically does not work."

The Law Enforcement Panel was comprised of James Epstein (Mercer County District Attorney), Pat McElhinny (Hermitage Chief of Police), Francis Schultz (Crawford County District Attorney), and Michael Simmons (Titusville Chief of Police). The panel discussed methamphetamine use in Northwestern PA and it was brought up that when a person sells a home or rents an apartment, they are not required to disclose if there was any past meth activity.

Sen. Robbins, who is interested in looking at legislation to reverse this policy, stated, "Rep. John Evans and I have worked with a group of legislators to move several bills aimed at combating methamphetamine through the legislative process. Senate Bill 1120 would enact stricter penalties for operating a meth lab in the presence of a child and Senate Bill 1121 would establish a joint program between law enforcement and retailers to combat the illegal purchase of meth ingredients.

Contact:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-1322
or 717-649-2085