JACKSON TWP — A company applied for a permit to build a power plant in Pennsylvania, withdrew the application and built the plant in Ohio after waiting 18 months on the permit, state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th, said Friday.

Permitting was one of the subjects discussed by legislators representing Butler County on Friday during the Butler County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “State of the Commonwealth” legislative breakfast, which touched on a bevy of issues affecting businesses and residents.

The event, which was held at the Steamfitters technology and event center, drew a large audience of business leaders, and county and municipal elected officials. Mark Buchek, this year's chamber chairman, served a moderator.

According to state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, chairman of the finance committee, streamlining the state process for reviewing permits has bipartisan support and would benefit businesses and residents. The goal is to have permits approved in a timely and predictable manner, he said.

Vogel, chairman of the agriculture and rural affairs committee, said the Senate “grilled” acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Richard Negrin about permitting during his confirmation hearing, and current Gov. Josh Shapiro supports expediting the process.

Hutchinson said changes in the tax code are needed to help state businesses compete with businesses in other states in the world economy. Some positive changes were made last year under former Gov. Tom Wolf and Shapiro supports additional changes.

Hutchinson said changes made last year reduced the corporate net income tax rate and increased the percentage cap on net operating loss deductions. He said Shapiro wants to continue those positive changes.

“We need a competitive tax climate in Pennsylvania,” Hutchinson said.

Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, said he supports reductions in the corporate net income tax and increasing the cap on net operating loss deductions.

When the state's corporate net income tax rate was 9.99%, it was the second highest among the states, and the net operating loss deduction, which has gradually increased to 40%, is tied with New Hampshire for the highest in the country, he said. The federal standard net operating loss deduction is 80%, he added.

Bernstein had an anecdote to share about a business that steered clear of Pennsylvania, too. He said U.S. Steel is building a $3 billion plant creating 1,000 jobs in Arkansas and not in Pennsylvania because of the corporate net income tax and the lack of permitting reform.

Like a vehicle inspection, the state should allow third parties to administer the permitting process and allow applicants to check on the progress of their applications online, he said. If no action is taken on a permit application is 60 to 90 days, it should be deemed approved, he added.

Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, said he supports the reductions in the corporate net income tax, but said “it's not being done fast enough.”

He said he supported the Taxpayer Protection Act, which limits government spending by tying it to the rate of inflation and population growth.

Democratic legislators voted against both measures, and Republicans have to win elections to institute changes, Bernstine said.

He noted that the Steamfitters union donated $170,000 to Democratic candidates.

Rep. Tim Bonner, R-17th, an attorney, touted the lawsuits against the state that he has been involved with.

One filed against Wolf was successful in declaring the business closings he ordered during the pandemic as unconstitutional, Bonner said.

A suit challenging the state's mail-in voting regulations was also successful, he said.

A suit challenging the state's no-excuse voting regulation was defeated, he said.

Bonner said he is serving as manager in the impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner over allegations of failing to perform his duties. He noted that the impeachment trial is only the second ever conducted by the Senate.

Vogel said the state continues to struggle to find a way to pay for road maintenance.

He said revenue from the state gas tax pays for roads, but that revenue is down because of the growing sales of electric-powered vehicles and people are driving less than they used to.

“We're looking for ideas,” Vogel said.

For years, Vogel said he has been working on legislation governing telemedicine, which saw an increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and remain important for older residents who don't drive. He plans to reintroduce legislation that includes guidelines about the costs that insurance companies would have to cover.

Vogel said the state needs more nurses trained to examine sexual assault victims. Those examinations have to be conducted quickly and correctly, but some hospitals only have one nurse qualified to perform the exams and there are none in New Castle.

He said a lot of federal money has been allocated to expand broadband service, which he supports. He said he doesn't have service at his home in Beaver County.

Vogel said the corporate net income tax changes include annual reductions that will eventually reduce the rate to 4.99%.

Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, said as a member of the appropriations committee she wants to balance the disparity in the amount of state funding allocated to community colleges and State System of Higher Education Universities, which were given a 3.8% increase in the proposed state budget, and the allocations to universities like University of Pittsburgh, Penn State and Temple University, which were given 7.1% increases.

She said several issues are hindering economic growth. Among them are the growing number of power plants being closed and $1.8 billion in fraudulent unemployment compensation claims.

The state spends a lot of money, but needs more revenue, she said.

Mustello said she has introduced legislation that would allow the issuance of liquor licenses that have been set aside, and modernize small games of chance regulations to allow volunteer fire departments and private schools to raise money and spend it more ways than are currently allowed.

Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, also an attorney, said her overarching goal is to reduce government regulations and give more power to people.

“There’s too much government,” Scialabba said.

She said she supports energy production and supported a lawsuit against the Department of Education over a regulation mandating what teachers believe and how they act.

Luke Bernstein said it is important for businesses to be in constant contact with legislators. The chamber has 10,000 members including large corporations and small businesses, he said.

Bernstein said the state lost 40,000 in population, but the county population increased.

In addition, Bernstein said Southwestern Pennsylvania's potential for natural gas development is unrivaled in the country. He said New York has banned all new connections to natural gas service.

“We can unlock freedom for not only here, but around the world,” Bernstein said about natural gas development. “We have to harness it, unleash it and go from there.”