A report released recently by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) reveals an optimistic economic outlook for Pennsylvania. ALEC’s Rich States Poor States Economic Competitiveness Index measured 15 equally-weighted economic variables among states, including tax rates, regulatory burdens and labor policies in each state.

The report ranks Pennsylvania’s business regulatory environment as the 34th-best in the nation, which is a nine-point improvement from its lowest ranking of 43 in 2010. The top ten and bottom ten states for 2013 are:

Top Ten

Bottom Ten

1. Utah
2. North Dakota
3. South Dakota
4. Wyoming
5. Virginia
6. Arizona
7. Idaho
8. Georgia
9. Florida
10.Mississippi

41. Maine
42. Montana
43. Connecticut
44. Oregon
45. Rhode Island
46. Minnesota
47. California
48. Illinois
49. New York
50. Vermont

The positive vibe engendered by the ALEC report is bolstered by the recent passing in the state senate of a long overdue transportation improvement bill, which if passed by the House will improve Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure.

The Senate plan would invest $2.5 billion over five years, with the additional revenue generated in four ways: Over three years, the artificial wholesale price cap on fuel under the Oil Company Franchise Tax would be phased out. Licensing, registration and permitting fees would be updated for inflation and indexed to inflation moving forward. A $100 surcharge dedicated to transportation would be added to Motor Vehicle Code violations, with fines increasing for certain traffic violations.

Investing in transportation infrastructure reflects the state’s commitment to Pennsylvania businesses and individuals alike. For more information about doing business in Pennsylvania, seek the help of a professional business law attorney.  The attorneys at the Scolieri-Beam Law Group, P.C. can advise you regarding existing laws and regulations and help you develop a strategy to meet your business goals. Contact us today at (412)765-0546 or info@scolierilaw.com.