Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
10/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2024 12:46
Kuzma Hosts Policy Committee for First Hearing on Widespread Impact of Inflation
Oct. 03, 2024
SOUTH PARK TOWNSHIP - Fulfilling his promise to strongly represent the 39th Legislative District, Rep. Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington) today hosted the House Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), for a hearing on the widespread impact of inflation on local communities, small businesses and households across the Commonwealth.
The hearing, titled "Relief is Possible: Combatting the Crisis of Cost," featured testifiers Doug Pascoe, chief of the South East Regional EMS; Norm Candelore, vice president of vendor relations for Sarris Candies; Patrick Haver, constituent of the 39th Legislative District; and Kurt Couchman, senior policy fellow of fiscal policy at Americans for Prosperity.
As indicated by the testifiers, every segment of Pennsylvania's population is struggling because of inflation. Rising costs are straining essential services like fire and emergency medical services. Small businesses face skyrocketing prices, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, while many households struggle to afford housing prices, energy, child care and groceries.
According to Pennsylvania's Joint Economic Committee (JEC) State Inflation Tracker, in 2024, "the average household in Pennsylvania is paying $984 more per month to purchase the same basket of goods and services as in January 2021." Also, compared to January 2021, the average household in Pennsylvania is currently spending $140 more on food per month.
"My constituents continually express to me their struggles with out-of-control rising prices," Kuzma said. "Mortgage rates have doubled the cost to buy a home. A dollar is only worth 80 cents today. These costs also burden our small businesses, local governments and emergency responders. I am committed to working with my colleagues to take necessary steps to relieve some of this burden by gathering ideas from this and subsequent hearings to push for legislative solutions."
"Pennsylvanians are incredibly hard-working people. But for all of their hard work, they should not be living on such unfairly tight budgets," said Kail. "Prosperity is when you and your families, your children and their children thrive. If you thrive, Pennsylvania thrives. Let's bring prosperity to Pennsylvania."
To watch the complete hearing, click here.
Representative Andrew Kuzma
39th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepKuzma.com/ Facebook.com/RepKuzma
The hearing, titled "Relief is Possible: Combatting the Crisis of Cost," featured testifiers Doug Pascoe, chief of the South East Regional EMS; Norm Candelore, vice president of vendor relations for Sarris Candies; Patrick Haver, constituent of the 39th Legislative District; and Kurt Couchman, senior policy fellow of fiscal policy at Americans for Prosperity.
As indicated by the testifiers, every segment of Pennsylvania's population is struggling because of inflation. Rising costs are straining essential services like fire and emergency medical services. Small businesses face skyrocketing prices, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, while many households struggle to afford housing prices, energy, child care and groceries.
According to Pennsylvania's Joint Economic Committee (JEC) State Inflation Tracker, in 2024, "the average household in Pennsylvania is paying $984 more per month to purchase the same basket of goods and services as in January 2021." Also, compared to January 2021, the average household in Pennsylvania is currently spending $140 more on food per month.
"My constituents continually express to me their struggles with out-of-control rising prices," Kuzma said. "Mortgage rates have doubled the cost to buy a home. A dollar is only worth 80 cents today. These costs also burden our small businesses, local governments and emergency responders. I am committed to working with my colleagues to take necessary steps to relieve some of this burden by gathering ideas from this and subsequent hearings to push for legislative solutions."
"Pennsylvanians are incredibly hard-working people. But for all of their hard work, they should not be living on such unfairly tight budgets," said Kail. "Prosperity is when you and your families, your children and their children thrive. If you thrive, Pennsylvania thrives. Let's bring prosperity to Pennsylvania."
To watch the complete hearing, click here.
Representative Andrew Kuzma
39th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepKuzma.com/ Facebook.com/RepKuzma
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