Raising the Issues...

Pennsylvania has more municipal governments than all but one other state. And Pennsylvanians like their local governments “up close and personal.” How local governments fit into the larger regional structures, however, plays an increasingly important role in determining how competitive an area can be.

Advances in medicine are occurring at a rapid pace. Each new drug, procedure or medical instrument adds to the growing arsenal of disease fighting ammunition. Translating that to everyday patient care in a cost-effective manner remains a challenge. At the same time, advances in patient safety have come at a slower pace. Increasing the quality of care apart from new technology appears to be an even bigger challenge.

Access to health care is a significant issue for many people. The number and percentage of people without insurance is rising, and many of those with insurance are seeing the breadth of their coverage receding. The consequences to receiving and paying for health care are significant.

The IssuesPA/Pew Polls consistently show that people are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of health care. Consistent double digit annual increases support this contention. Since employers pay about three-quarters of the total costs nationally, it increasingly affects their bottom line in a major way.

Pennsylvania offers a wide array of places to live and work. But Pennsylvania also experiences inadequate state, regional and local coordination in areas such as transportation and infrastructure planning, environmental protection and economic development. This can drain people, resources and vitality from our towns and cities, wipe out valuable open space, and inhibit agricultural production.

Pennsylvania offers a wealth of cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities that provide diverse, exciting leisure opportunities. Ultimately, these assets are crucial in the quest to attract residents and new investment. They draw tourists as well as young talent that companies want to recruit and retain. Still, with all these advantages, why aren't more coming to - or staying in - Pennsylvania?

Actions and policies of the federal government have an impact on Pennsylvania’s state and local government. How state and local officials react to these changes has implications for many areas under their purview. For example, federal funding cutback decisions for programs such as Medicaid forces state officials to find more money or cut benefits. Policy changes such as the federal No Child Left Behind initiative require state and local officials to react from a policy and funding perspective.

Basic Education is the keystone of competitiveness for Pennsylvania. Citizens’ attaining high levels of competence through high school provides a sound basis for acquiring more specialized skills through higher education – skill essential for personal development and the success of employers. Just as important, people with a solid basic education are much more likely to be contributors to the state’s economy than those with lesser education who, on average, commit more crime and depend on social services to a greater extent.

In very different ways, September 11, 2001 and Hurrican Katrina in the summer of 2005 focused attention on the nation's ability to anticipate, prepare for, and react to personal and economic security threats. What are the appropriate state and local roles for Pennsylvania's public safety and emergency preparedness response systems to best protect the state's citizens, businesses, and infrastructure?

To many, infrastructure means roads, waterways and water systems, ports and railroads that Pennsylvanians have built over the past three centuries. But infrastructure today also includes the foundations of a fast-moving, information-based economy - airports with frequent service, and high-speed telecommunications lines – and even stadiums or arts centers

Today's knowledge-driven economy emphasizes the need for companies to attract a skilled workforce to compete globally. For workers, it means continually upgrading skills for their personal economic security. For companies, it means searching for places where the talent pool is "thick" - lots of workers with the right skills.

If Pennsylvania wants to grow, it's clear the state must present an attractive image to young people starting their careers. The state's colleges and universities enroll roughly 650,000 students. The challenge is to build on this base to attract and retain more young educated leaders and to build an educated workforce.

The effects of how state government works and what it does go way beyond the more visible grant programs. State government controls tax policy for itself and local governments; oversees Pennsylvania’s basic education systems; establishes and funds health and welfare, transportation, and public safety programs and agencies. Its impact on daily life and the economy cannot be ignored.

Over the past 20 years, the United States economy has grown as never before. However, Pennsylvania has not shared in this growth as much as it should have. We've lost economic ground to our competitors and our influence and prestige have declined. How can we improve Pennsylvania's economic performance in an increasingly competitive climate?

The cost of doing business in any one area is determined in part by government regulation of several aspects of a business ranging from taxes to the cost of health care. As a cost to business, they are part of a larger competitive package that helps to determine where the business locates and how successful it is.

High quality early learning environments for pre-schoolers in Pennsylvania not only benefit the child, but also contribute to productivity and economic competitiveness in 3 ways: (1) More children will be ready to learn. (2) Taxpayers will experience lower long-term government costs. (3) Businesses will gain access to a larger and more productive workforce.