Burns decries Gov. Wolf’s veto of pro-industry legislation
Vows to support veto override vote
Rep. Frank Burns March 27, 2020 | 4:30 PM
EBENSBURG, March 27 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today showed his support for Pennsylvania’s energy industry by objecting to Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of H.B. 1100 and vowing to support a veto-override vote in the General Assembly.
House Bill 1100 would utilize Pennsylvania’s abundant dry natural gas resources and encourage manufacturing by offering tax breaks to companies that use natural gas to produce fertilizers and other chemicals. Companies would have to make at least $450 million in capital investments to build a plant and create at least 800 jobs to receive the tax credit.
“I am confounded how this governor could veto a bill that is designed to create thousands of family sustaining jobs when we are faced with record unemployment during this unprecedented crisis that is gutting our economy," Burns said. “This veto is a slap in the face of hardworking Pennsylvanians and the unions that built this state and who today find themselves out of work."
The bill received broad, bipartisan support when it passed the state House and Senate in February. Burns and other lawmakers have said they would support a veto override vote, and today Burns said he stands by that commitment.
“The governor's actions are sending the wrong message to businesses looking at Pennsylvania,” Burns said. “As someone who is trying to recruit business to Cambria County, I know we need to be investing and working with industries to put people back to work.”
Last year, Burns reached out to representatives at ExxonMobil to let them know the benefits of Cambria County's Keystone Opportunity Zone designation in hopes of landing jobs in the area.
Burns said a responsible middle ground exists with any big economic development project, and he assures his environmentally minded friends that he will work to ensure that those concerns are addressed under any such expansion.
“As a Jack Murtha Democrat, I want to make crystal clear that good-paying, family sustaining jobs and the industries that support them are welcomed with open arms in our communities," Burns said. "I always have, and always will, support the working people of Pennsylvania. I will continue to fight for jobs even if it means standing against the governor and voting to override this ill-timed action.”