The Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW | Page 6

State Priorities
Our region achieved a goal the Allegheny Conference, GPCC and numerous other
private-sector organizations have been working on for more than 15 years: to improve
Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness through elimination of the Capital Stock and
Franchise Tax (CSFT). Due to the CSFT, Pennsylvania was one of the few states that taxed
both business assets and business receipts or net income. This made the Commonwealth
less competitive for job creation and business investment compared to competing states.
The GPCC appreciates the Governor and legislature’s support for the elimination of this
burdensome tax on job creators. We led the more than 130 businesses and organizations of
CompetePA on this issue. CompetePA is a coalition representing more than half the private
sector employment in Pennsylvania that works to create a more competitive statewide
business tax climate.
Another major GPCC state priority that saw progress in 2015 is state and municipal pension
reform. Work remains to realize meaningful reforms, yet 2015 saw the most progress to date
on these issues. We look forward to continuing to work on state and municipal pension
reform in 2016.

The GPCC conducts regular meetings and conference calls with state policy makers
and other stakeholders. We recently hosted Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene
DePasquale for a discussion around the need for municipal pension reform.

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