For far too long, we have seen our young people leave western Pennsylvania because of a lack of economic opportunities. Also for far too long, state government has tried to create jobs by spending taxpayer monies on a variety of so-called economic development programs.

In fact, in a recent year Pennsylvania ranked second in the nation in the amount spent on these programs, and was at the same time ranked 45th in job growth. Clearly we are not getting enough for our money.

Of even greater concern, these kinds of programs, where government picks winners and losers, breed political corruption. Instead of continuing to spend millions of taxpayer dollars for little discernible benefit, we need to reform our tax system to make it fair to all concerned, and to encourage businesses, both small and large, to come to Pennsylvania, to stay in Pennsylvania, to grow in Pennsylvania and to employ Pennsylvanians.

For our economy to grow, we must also reduce the size and cost of state government, and reduce the burden caused by excessive government spending and borrowing.

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