The Fifth Annual Western Pennsylvania Legislative Reception on September 18, 2025, at CNX Resources was hosted by The MBA, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and the Pittsburgh Business Exchange. The event is an important conduit between those who make the laws and those who bear the impact. The Business Issues Forum preceded the reception.
The Forum’s feature was a legislative panel who responded to questions involving the core issues faced by Pennsylvania leaders. The panel, including Senator Scott Hutchinson, Representatives Jill Cooper, Valerie Gaydos, Tim O’Neal and Jeremy Shaffer, displayed an excellent mix of ideas and opinions.
The questions covered the 2025–2026 PA state budget (which at the time was overdue by 60 days), transit funding, how the state and the PJM electricity grid will deal with the power required by artificial intelligence and the data centers moving to the Commonwealth, and the need for accelerated permitting to be competitive with other states, etc.
Representatives Shaffer and Gaydos and Senator Scott Hutchinson responded to “How can lawmakers be encouraged to create a five-year transit funding plan now that the transit funding crisis has been alleviated for the next two years?”
Shaffer, who has a background in transportation, said, “We do not have an effective transit system. I have no bus routes in my district… . The fare box take is 18 percent of a rider’s cost, while taxpayers provide a nearly $20 subsidy for each ride… . We need to re-think transit. Now it’s based on getting people to downtown and back out… . Technology will help with the use of robotaxis and autonomous transit options… .”
Gaydos said, “I see four people on a giant bus… . They should look at ride-sharing and smaller buses… . Transit needs to be re-tooled and refigured.”
Hutchinson shared the perspective of his rural constituents. “Transit requires major new and innovative thought processes. Those in rural areas pay for gasoline, and there is no taxpayer subsidy for them. They resent the fact that the fare charged by riders only covers 18 percent of the cost. Rural legislators must see innovative and outside-the-box thinking.”
The PJM electricity grid was the subject of another question. (The PJM supplies wholesale electricity to 13 states and the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania accounts for 25 percent of the total electricity supplied to PJM.)
O’Neal noted, “Now there is an electricity transition across the grid… . Today’s transition is driven by policy enacted to advance an environmental agenda and is not market driven. The market will drive a transition to renewables over time. The process to apply for connection to the grid has a long queue and many of the projects are solar and wind. PJM has a diversity of resources, and we are prematurely retiring baseload generation in favor of solar which cannot power a home.”
Faster permitting, the topic of another question, is desperately needed in Pennsylvania. Gaydos told of data center companies that wanted to locate in PA. They backed out because they found that building a business here was more costly and the time to do it too lengthy. So, they went elsewhere. “We are at a pivotal point,” she said. “There is urgency to do it, and the Commonwealth needs to be more responsive.”
Hutchinson strongly seconded the need for faster permitting.
In the business world, time is money, but not in PA, although Governor Josh Shapiro vows to “Move as fast as the speed of business.” The MBA asks, “Who’s business?”
The panel discussion could have gone on for hours. Overall, the lawmakers had very sound answers, promising ideas, experience and thoughtful replies.
The takeaway? It is extremely unfortunate that the same barriers to competitiveness continue to surface, year after year. The General Assembly and governor are so polarized that they are unable to grab success for the Commonwealth when it is right in front of them. It’s time to get this done now!
Eileen Anderson is the director of Government Relations at The MBA. Contact her at 412/805-5707 or eileenanderson@mbausa.org.
