By Tracey Wakeen
Pennsylvania’s Democrat-controlled Labor & Industry Committee postures as a champion of workers, but its actions expose a blatant betrayal of small businesses—the lifeblood of our economy. Bills like HB 200, which ram through paid family leave mandates, are steamrolled into law without compromise, crushing amendments that could soften the blow. These heavy-handed policies treat mom-and-pop shops like corporate giants, ignoring their razor-thin margins and limited resources. Forced payroll contributions hit workers and owners alike, saddling them with programs they didn’t ask for and can’t afford.
The committee’s obsession with unions is undeniable, shoving “Buy American, Buy Union” propaganda while dismissing the struggles of small business owners. Legislation is slapped together half-baked, with critical implementation questions ignored or brushed off in hearings. This isn’t incompetence—it’s deliberate. Career politicians who’ve never signed a paycheck dictate how businesses must operate, blind to the economic carnage they unleash. Small businesses face skyrocketing costs, slashed hiring, and a competitive gut-punch compared to big corporations or neighboring states.
Year after year, this cycle of punishment continues. Bills like HB 200, peddled as pro-family, threaten to wipe out jobs and shutter small businesses unable to shoulder the mandated costs. The only way to stop this madness is to flip the Pennsylvania House. A new majority would demand real dialogue, crafting policies that don’t annihilate the small businesses that keep our communities alive. Small business owners don’t need more suffocating mandates—they need a voice and a fighting chance.
Contact: tracey@gobigsmallbiz.com
GoBigSmallBiz, Governor’s Plaza South, 2001 N Front St, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17102, 717-421-3090
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