Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
10/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/09/2024 08:55
Schlegel, Policy Committee Host Final Hearing on Widespread Impact of Inflation
Oct. 09, 2024
HARRISBURG - Today, Rep. John Schlegel (R-Lebanon) and the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened the third and final hearing in a series 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 Bryan Smith, executive director of Lebanon County Christian Ministries; Greg Moreland, state director of National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); and Emily Greene, state director of Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania.
Two in five Pennsylvanians live in a home struggling to make ends meet, according to Smith, who found that, "There is not one thing that occurs and creates need. It is the compilation of higher utility bills, higher grocery bills, higher fuel prices, and higher cost of medical care."
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.
While many households struggle to afford housing prices, energy, child care and groceries, small businesses are facing skyrocketing prices, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. NFIB's Small Business Economic Trends Report from August 2024 found that 24% of small business owners reported inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business.
"Inflation is weighing heavily on all segments of our community. Pennsylvanians are desperate for relief," said Schlegel. "Relief is possible if we grow our economy by investing in hard-working Pennsylvanians and empowering small businesses to set up shop in this great Commonwealth."
"The reason we have inflation is because of too much government. Harrisburg needs to get out of the way and let the markets lead the way to revitalization," said Kail.
To watch the complete hearing, visit pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.
Representative John Schlegel
101st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717-260-6452
[email protected]
repschlegel.com
The hearing, titled "Relief is Possible: Combatting the Crisis of Cost," featured testifiers Bryan Smith, executive director of Lebanon County Christian Ministries; Greg Moreland, state director of National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); and Emily Greene, state director of Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania.
Two in five Pennsylvanians live in a home struggling to make ends meet, according to Smith, who found that, "There is not one thing that occurs and creates need. It is the compilation of higher utility bills, higher grocery bills, higher fuel prices, and higher cost of medical care."
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.
While many households struggle to afford housing prices, energy, child care and groceries, small businesses are facing skyrocketing prices, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. NFIB's Small Business Economic Trends Report from August 2024 found that 24% of small business owners reported inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business.
"Inflation is weighing heavily on all segments of our community. Pennsylvanians are desperate for relief," said Schlegel. "Relief is possible if we grow our economy by investing in hard-working Pennsylvanians and empowering small businesses to set up shop in this great Commonwealth."
"The reason we have inflation is because of too much government. Harrisburg needs to get out of the way and let the markets lead the way to revitalization," said Kail.
To watch the complete hearing, visit pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.
Representative John Schlegel
101st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717-260-6452
[email protected]
repschlegel.com
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