FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2005

Rep. John Perzel
172nd District
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(215) 331-2600
(717) 787-2016
www.johnperzel.com
Contact: Beth A. Williams
Press Secretary
(717) 783-8125
www.pahousegop.com

PA Prosperity Report Offers Practical Insights to Improving Economy

By John M. Perzel, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representative

Legislative thoughts and concepts flow like a river through the state Capitol, but some of state's most effective and practical legislative ideas are not conceived in Harrisburg by elected officials - they come from all corners of our Commonwealth, from concerned moms and dads, business leaders, and politically astute young people. These citizens use their specialized expertise to provide elected officials with ideas that often result in laws that help solve the concerns of everyday life.

An example of this grassroots process is a report recently submitted to the Pennsylvania General Assembly by a group called the PA Prosperity Coalition, a group of civic-minded business organizations concerned about the state's economic pulse.

The report, entitled Forward to Prosperity, asks what can be done to improve our economic climate. While the report contains scholarly thoughts from business and statistical experts, it includes reflections and insights from the real experts - people like you. Through statewide focus groups and surveys of more than 800 Pennsylvanians, the report identifies concrete steps to improve our state's economic vigor.

The report reflects issues raised in separate, earlier reports, but the strength of the research is its extensiveness, and how it documents a variety of problems and issues - including land-use planning, education, taxation, housing, urban revitalization and transportation - that, together, impact our economy in powerful ways. Forward to Prosperity provides a blueprint for action that addresses coherently and comprehensively the problems with which we've been struggling so long.

I invite you to read the report, available at www.PaProsperity.org. Copies are also available at all public and university libraries. I also encourage the Brookings Institution, which has produced a competing report, to join the discussion of the PA Prosperity Coalition's findings.

I know, and the PA Prosperity Coalition knows, that the Forward to Prosperity report does not hold all the answers. Rather, I do believe it opens dialog between elected officials, business leaders and concerned citizens about how we can create more family-sustaining jobs and continue to make Pennsylvania a great place to do business.

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