Today, a final hearing was held by Rep. John Schlegel and the House Republican Policy Committee to address the impact of inflation on communities in Pennsylvania. The session, titled “Relief is Possible: Combatting the Crisis of Cost,” included testimonies from Bryan Smith of Lebanon County Christian Ministries, Greg Moreland from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and Emily Greene of Americans for Prosperity – Pennsylvania.
Bryan Smith highlighted that two in five Pennsylvanians are struggling financially due to rising costs in utilities, groceries, fuel, and medical care. According to Pennsylvania’s Joint Economic Committee State Inflation Tracker, households are paying $984 more monthly compared to January 2021 for similar goods and services.
Small businesses also face challenges with increasing prices, labor shortages, and supply chain issues. NFIB’s report indicated that 24% of small business owners consider inflation their primary issue.
Rep. Schlegel emphasized the need for economic growth by supporting Pennsylvanians and small businesses. “Inflation is weighing heavily on all segments of our community. Pennsylvanians are desperate for relief,” he stated.
Rep. Josh Kail attributed inflation to excessive government intervention and suggested allowing market forces to drive revitalization efforts.
The full hearing can be viewed at pagoppolicy.com/video/policy.
