Recent statistics show that Pittsburgh is the fifth fastest dying city in the country and Pennsylvania is the 10th fastest dying state. Having been in the construction industry for over 30 years and working with corporations from all over the country, I’ve learned that the main reasons the major private developers are hesitant to come into Pennsylvania, especially Pittsburgh, are dubious politicians, a hostile union labor force, excessive taxes, crumbling infrastructure and the low quality of living available to their employees.
For example, taxpayer-funded projects are rigged to keep out the more reasonably priced nonunion contractors, even if they pay as much or more than union shops. They are blocked out by nonessential provisions inserted in the bidding process and contracts designed so that only union shops can comply with them. If Pennsylvania were a “right to work” state and allowed merit shops to compete on road construction projects, PennDOT alone could easily cut $3 billion to $4 billion from its bloated $10 billion budget. Imagine the additional billions that would be saved if merit shops were allowed to build schools, public housing, government buildings and other infrastructure projects as well.
As long as we keep electing pawns that are beholden to union bosses and their dirty money, we shall reap what we sow.
E. Joseph Biss
Greensburg