State lawmakers launch bipartisan Competitiveness Caucus
Rep. Paul Friel January 14, 2025 | 4:04 PM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 14 – Today, Pennsylvania state Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York; and Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton; along with state Reps. Paul Friel, D-Chester; and Josh Kail, R-Beaver; announced the formation of a new bipartisan, bicameral group within the state General Assembly: the Pennsylvania Competitiveness Caucus.
The legislators said the new caucus aims to unify efforts across the Capitol and party lines to strengthen the state’s economic competitiveness and ensure a robust, dynamic economy today and into the future.
The formation of the Pennsylvania Competitiveness Caucus comes at a crucial time for the commonwealth. As the state faces challenges in retaining businesses, attracting new investment, and reversing stagnant population growth, the caucus will serve as a dedicated platform for lawmakers to collaborate on policies that drive economic growth and make Pennsylvania an attractive place to live and work.
“Although we sit on opposite sides of the aisle, we are united in our belief that making Pennsylvania more economically competitive through the advancement of pro-growth policies will benefit working-class families, reverse our stagnant population growth, and ensure our commonwealth is an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come,” Phillips-Hill said. “I am thrilled to be joining this bipartisan group of my colleagues to elevate this vital conversation and focus on key policies that will grow our state.”
The Pennsylvania Competitiveness Caucus will build on the momentum created by recent pro-growth wins in the 2024-25 state budget, including permitting reform and eliminating Pennsylvania’s start-up tax by improving the treatment of net operating losses. These policy victories reflect a broader effort to enhance the state’s economic landscape – a commitment the caucus intends to carry forward.
“The most recent budget was a giant step forward in making Pennsylvania more competitive today and building the workforce of tomorrow,” Boscola said. “We need to keep the momentum going, and that takes both parties and both chambers working together to create commonsense policies that help our businesses thrive and create family-sustaining jobs.”
The caucus will work to strengthen the commonwealth’s long-term economic competitiveness and focus on key public policy impacting the commonwealth’s ability to attract and retain business investment in Pennsylvania.
“Our Competitiveness Caucus recognizes the enormous potential of Pennsylvania to be a global leader in industry, technology and innovation,” Friel said. “We also know that the prosperity of our citizens is tied to the policies that unlock this economic potential, and we are dedicated to developing legislative approaches that strengthen our families, our businesses and our commonwealth.”
The Pennsylvania Competitiveness Caucus will unite legislators from all four caucuses to work together on the shared mission of positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in economic performance.
“The time to unleash Pennsylvania’s potential as an economic powerhouse is now,” Kail said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to co-chair the bipartisan, bicameral Competitiveness Caucus, and look forward to collaborating on actionable policies that will spur prosperity in Pennsylvania.”
The caucus will hold a news conference at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 in the Main Capitol Rotunda to discuss the caucus’ goals for the legislative session. Immediately following, the caucus will hold its first meeting for members only.