1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:03,630 Starting now. 2 00:00:04,330 --> 00:00:08,550 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:08,550 --> 00:00:12,190 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:12,250 --> 00:00:15,870 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:16,210 --> 00:00:18,830 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:19,050 --> 00:00:21,870 and today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:23,340 --> 00:00:27,750 Thanks for joining us on commonalities on five 90 Wmb, 8 00:00:27,830 --> 00:00:29,950 S 1 0 1 0.1, 9 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:34,950 FM five 90 am and any place you download your favorite podcast. 10 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:39,670 My guest today is a good friend of mine and a former colleague from the 11 00:00:39,670 --> 00:00:44,630 Pennsylvania House representative Eric Nelson of the 57th District in 12 00:00:44,630 --> 00:00:47,870 Westmore Lane County. Eric, how are you doing this morning? 13 00:00:48,350 --> 00:00:50,910 Doing fantastic, man. Great to see. 14 00:00:50,910 --> 00:00:54,830 You. Well, it's good to see you as well. Uh, today I know we have a, 15 00:00:54,830 --> 00:00:56,190 a topic we want to get to, 16 00:00:56,190 --> 00:01:00,750 and that is middle class jobs and how we fill that funnel, 17 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:06,110 uh, and, uh, make sure we take care of all of the opportunities, uh, 18 00:01:06,110 --> 00:01:11,110 that we need to, uh, to provide jobs for the middle class. Uh, 19 00:01:11,110 --> 00:01:14,950 but before we get to that, I wanna talk a little bit about your background. Um, 20 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:19,790 you have been in the Pennsylvania House since 2016, 21 00:01:19,790 --> 00:01:21,510 if I'm correct, is is that right? 22 00:01:22,370 --> 00:01:27,190 Yes, 16. That was a special election, so 2017. Um, 23 00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:30,470 I've been in there right around seven years now. So. 24 00:01:31,500 --> 00:01:35,720 And you have, uh, you have experience as a small business owner, 25 00:01:36,370 --> 00:01:41,080 um, mostly in the safety industry and, uh, 26 00:01:41,580 --> 00:01:42,880 and so, you know, 27 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,400 some of the things that small business owners are struggling with and, uh, 28 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,000 and you've provided jobs before in the past. Um, 29 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:56,040 so you will be an excellent candidate to discuss our topic today, 30 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,360 which again is middle class jobs. Um, 31 00:01:59,430 --> 00:02:03,360 I wanna give you a moment before we get into the crux to things to do a little 32 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,080 bit of a self introduction. If there's anything I left out, uh, 33 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,880 that you'd like to say about yourself or your background, 34 00:02:09,950 --> 00:02:11,520 you're welcome to do so. 35 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:13,720 And it's, it's great, 36 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,280 it's great to be on the show here talking about the ever important middle class 37 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,800 jobs, you know, as an entrepreneur and small businessmen, you know, 38 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,600 we had started a company, uh, we worked a lot in, um, 39 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,640 steel power glass, petrochemical. That was the bulk of our business. 40 00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:36,160 The, the, uh, safety consulting company that I started, um, 41 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:40,560 with a $5,000 loan, you know, from the Greensburg Teacher's Credit Union. 42 00:02:40,690 --> 00:02:44,520 We built that up over a number of years, the 54 employees, 43 00:02:44,540 --> 00:02:49,480 and also had a family business of a Brewster's ice cream that was located in New 44 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:50,680 Stand for 16 years. 45 00:02:51,130 --> 00:02:55,720 So both from the heavy manufacturing side and, um, 46 00:02:55,720 --> 00:03:00,000 the light, you know, seven days a week, uh, retail business, 47 00:03:01,270 --> 00:03:06,040 I understand the importance of jobs and the pathway to be able to 48 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,960 teach young people how to enter into the workforce, you know, so, um, 49 00:03:10,270 --> 00:03:13,120 it's one of the things that, you know, for me, 50 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:16,960 I'm a former marine small business owner. You know, we live on a, 51 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:19,840 a farm with my wife 25 years. 52 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,760 We got seven kids on 70 plus acres. And 53 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,130 part of my role as a state representative, I really feel trying to represent, 54 00:03:30,150 --> 00:03:34,090 you know, everyone. It's not about a given party Republican or Democrat, 55 00:03:34,090 --> 00:03:38,770 it's about families and families being able to have opportunity for their 56 00:03:39,330 --> 00:03:44,170 children to choose to stay here and work here for the next 10 years. 57 00:03:44,170 --> 00:03:44,490 And, 58 00:03:44,490 --> 00:03:49,490 and Pennsylvania has been steadily losing ground as compared 59 00:03:49,490 --> 00:03:51,490 to other states. Uh, and, 60 00:03:51,490 --> 00:03:54,290 and that's why middle class jobs are so important to me. 61 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,370 Well, and, and we even saw that with, um, 62 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:01,970 with redistricting and the fact that we lost a congressional seat, 63 00:04:02,380 --> 00:04:06,970 um, Pennsylvania is, is kind of bleeding, uh, residents. 64 00:04:07,070 --> 00:04:11,130 And I've always said, uh, that one of our leading exports, 65 00:04:11,130 --> 00:04:15,290 at least here from Fayette County, has been our youth. And, uh, 66 00:04:15,290 --> 00:04:20,090 we wanna do whatever we can to try to stop that and to create 67 00:04:20,370 --> 00:04:24,770 family sustaining jobs that keep people in the area. Um, 68 00:04:24,770 --> 00:04:28,850 now you talked a little bit about your background in the safety industry and 69 00:04:28,850 --> 00:04:33,730 some of the other industries you worked with. Um, kind of related to that, 70 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,690 I know you've been working on legislation, um, 71 00:04:38,020 --> 00:04:40,810 in the hydrogen sector, um, 72 00:04:40,810 --> 00:04:45,490 that would bring hydrogen related jobs to southwestern Pennsylvania. 73 00:04:45,820 --> 00:04:46,970 So why don't you, uh, 74 00:04:46,970 --> 00:04:51,250 educate us a little bit on what exactly hydrogen 75 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:55,050 production is and how those jobs, uh, 76 00:04:55,050 --> 00:04:58,450 could come to southwestern Pennsylvania and how they could keep our kids here 77 00:04:58,450 --> 00:04:59,570 for another generation? 78 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,180 Yes, absolutely. You know, the, the hydrogen opportunity, 79 00:05:04,430 --> 00:05:06,300 as I call it, is an, 80 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:11,140 an excellent way to be able to continue to have people work and to, 81 00:05:11,150 --> 00:05:12,740 to grow our, our region. 82 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,300 And a little background on hydrogen is, 83 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:20,700 and the use of hydrogen for manufacturing is a way to be able to 84 00:05:21,220 --> 00:05:24,500 generate high heat in a short term period of time. 85 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:28,740 And with high heat that allows us to make 86 00:05:29,590 --> 00:05:31,750 heavy industrial products, 87 00:05:32,090 --> 00:05:36,590 the use of hydrogen and manufacturing also really reduces 88 00:05:36,590 --> 00:05:40,990 byproducts because hydrogen is so clean burning, 89 00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:45,030 it's even cleaner than natural gas, and it's made from natural gas. 90 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,350 So this new technology is not brand new. 91 00:05:50,420 --> 00:05:54,980 Other parts of the world, other countries in the world, Europe, um, 92 00:05:55,550 --> 00:05:59,160 they've been manufacturing steel from hydrogen, 93 00:05:59,290 --> 00:06:04,080 they've also been using manuf hydrogen to be able to manufacture other products. 94 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,380 And so as we look at Pennsylvania's next 10 years, 95 00:06:09,150 --> 00:06:13,340 if we can embrace what industry wants to do, 96 00:06:13,340 --> 00:06:17,620 and that is to supply consumers with low 97 00:06:17,810 --> 00:06:21,580 carbon products because they feel there's a market to be made 98 00:06:22,530 --> 00:06:26,790 and do it in a more responsible way, it's a win-win across the board. 99 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,150 We have the, 100 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:32,910 a multi-billion dollar investment in the shell cracker that's going to be coming 101 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:36,830 online, and that cracker will generate ethane, 102 00:06:36,830 --> 00:06:40,150 which is used for plastics in all sorts of products. 103 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,950 So as the ethane cracker begins to supply 104 00:06:46,830 --> 00:06:49,920 what would be the plastic to be able to make things, 105 00:06:50,250 --> 00:06:55,040 if we layer in a hydrogen hub or a facility that would take 106 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,600 natural gas, which is already clean, split it, 107 00:06:58,860 --> 00:07:03,040 use those byproduct chemicals and the hydrogen to be the heat source, 108 00:07:03,410 --> 00:07:08,200 we can make some of the lowest carbon steel and plastics 109 00:07:08,370 --> 00:07:09,920 in the nation. And, 110 00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:14,840 and that really would be what I call a decade of development for southwestern 111 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,160 Pennsylvania. And, and the process, 112 00:07:17,260 --> 00:07:21,200 the competitive process is actually beginning in January. 113 00:07:22,820 --> 00:07:25,960 Now you're talking about the competitive process. I, you know, 114 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:30,800 I believe there are a limited number of hydrogen opportunities that are 115 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,200 going to come available. Um, and I know that, you know, uh, 116 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,880 a little bit more about that. Why don't you explain that to us and, 117 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:42,520 and how can Southwestern Pennsylvania compete to obtain 118 00:07:42,620 --> 00:07:44,400 one of those hydrogen opportunities? 119 00:07:45,390 --> 00:07:50,200 Well, uh, it is, it definitely is game on and for, 120 00:07:50,340 --> 00:07:55,320 you know, industry itself over the last several years have been working on this 121 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,560 initiative. And, um, 122 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:02,200 I've been personally engaged in it probably about maybe a year, 14 months, 123 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,960 15 months. Um, and what's happening is there's a competition between states. 124 00:08:07,220 --> 00:08:11,360 The federal government has created an incentive, and again, 125 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,400 regardless of the politics, um, 126 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,440 whether you support actions that the federal government or you oppose them, 127 00:08:19,090 --> 00:08:21,080 um, the competition is on, 128 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:25,800 and states across the nation are competing for four 129 00:08:26,350 --> 00:08:30,040 h four different hubs. The hydrogen hub, 130 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,560 hydrogen manufacturing, which is what Southwestern Pennsylvania will, 131 00:08:34,650 --> 00:08:35,960 is really going after, 132 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,680 would be a multi-billion dollar award to build a 133 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:42,400 hydrogen hub facility, 134 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,160 which we would then very close to it have hydrogen 135 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:47,993 consumption, 136 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:52,460 and that would allow us to make low-cost products. 137 00:08:52,670 --> 00:08:56,840 So the partnership that was created between some of our, 138 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:57,920 our major players, 139 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:02,760 and it's a public partnership between US Steel EOR and Shell. 140 00:09:03,170 --> 00:09:03,520 Um, 141 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:08,240 there's a number of different hosts of additional employers 142 00:09:08,420 --> 00:09:11,520 environmental groups, and it's a bipartisan effort. 143 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:16,440 There are Republicans and Democrats that want Pennsylvania to 144 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:21,400 make low carbon products because it's about making the products, 145 00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:23,240 building the manufacturing plants, 146 00:09:23,780 --> 00:09:27,280 and then supplying the downstream 147 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,420 opportunity for all the other plastics and materials made. 148 00:09:31,580 --> 00:09:35,100 Right now we, we live in the northeast, 149 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:39,760 which is a large concentration of people in America, 150 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:45,040 and we are within one trucking day's hall from southwestern Pennsylvania 151 00:09:45,250 --> 00:09:49,440 to supply some of the most populated areas in the country. We are positioned, 152 00:09:49,650 --> 00:09:53,200 ideally to be able to build it here, make it here, 153 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,800 and then continue to supply products from water bro 154 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,160 bottles to medical devices to the steel, 155 00:10:01,340 --> 00:10:04,960 low carbon steel that would go into automotive facilities. 156 00:10:05,290 --> 00:10:08,000 We just have to work together to bring it home. 157 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:10,433 Sure. 158 00:10:10,540 --> 00:10:15,090 So how do we make Pennsylvania friendly enough that one of these federal 159 00:10:15,090 --> 00:10:18,370 opportunities could, uh, could be placed here? 160 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,250 Well, that's an excellent question because unfortunately, 161 00:10:22,250 --> 00:10:25,770 Pennsylvania has a bit of a national stigma. You know, 162 00:10:25,770 --> 00:10:30,560 we are a high tax state and we have very arduous 163 00:10:30,820 --> 00:10:32,400 environmental regulations, 164 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:37,400 which oftentimes prevent companies from dropping that 165 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,600 large investment because when a company makes an investment, you know, they are, 166 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:45,890 they need to generate profit from it. And so, you know, 167 00:10:45,890 --> 00:10:50,810 it's a responsibility of government to be able to allow Pennsylvania businesses 168 00:10:50,810 --> 00:10:53,410 and the families to compete on the national stage. 169 00:10:53,550 --> 00:10:56,770 And we were fortunate it was a bipartisan effort. Uh, 170 00:10:56,770 --> 00:10:59,210 then carried some controversy to pack, 171 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:03,970 pass an incentive package for four different products, 172 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,970 projects throughout Pennsylvania, which we did right at the end of last session. 173 00:11:08,550 --> 00:11:12,090 One of those was for this hydrogen hub, 174 00:11:12,220 --> 00:11:15,370 another was for a food manufacturing facility. 175 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:20,490 We have another very large low carbon gasoline that 176 00:11:20,690 --> 00:11:21,890 it'll be one of the, 177 00:11:21,910 --> 00:11:26,810 the most modern facilities to make low carbon gasoline and fertilizer 178 00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:30,770 in central northeast Pennsylvania, a multi-billion dollar project. 179 00:11:31,420 --> 00:11:34,530 So I'm not a lover of tax credits at all, 180 00:11:34,830 --> 00:11:39,330 but I am even more so not a lover that Ohio, 181 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:40,730 West Virginia, 182 00:11:40,810 --> 00:11:45,650 North Carolina are seeing multi-billion dollars investments plant 183 00:11:45,650 --> 00:11:47,610 that will hire over a thousand workers. 184 00:11:48,020 --> 00:11:53,010 Because Pennsylvania isn't engaged in recruiting large scale 185 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:53,953 investment, 186 00:11:54,050 --> 00:11:58,800 we have to go all the way back to the days of Governor Corbett when he was able 187 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,560 to incent that shell cracker, which was a multi-billion dollar, 188 00:12:02,830 --> 00:12:07,600 hundreds of thousands of construction jobs, industry trades, jobs, 189 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:08,440 union workers, 190 00:12:08,780 --> 00:12:13,550 and small businesses from merit chops as well for 191 00:12:14,150 --> 00:12:17,430 multiple years. And that's really the opportunity that lays for us here, 192 00:12:17,740 --> 00:12:22,710 that everyone will be able to work and continue to work as we grow 193 00:12:22,710 --> 00:12:23,543 our economy. 194 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,690 Sure. Well, representative Nelson, we have to get our first break in today. 195 00:12:28,690 --> 00:12:32,210 We are talking, uh, on the show about middle class jobs. 196 00:12:32,210 --> 00:12:36,570 We've been talking about the hydrogen opportunities in the area, and we, 197 00:12:36,570 --> 00:12:37,570 when we come back, 198 00:12:37,610 --> 00:12:41,850 we're gonna talk even more about some of the struggles that the middle class is 199 00:12:41,850 --> 00:12:45,810 dealing with, such as childcare and so forth. 200 00:12:45,820 --> 00:12:49,210 So I look forward to the rest of our conversation. If you're listening, 201 00:12:49,250 --> 00:12:52,890 stick with us. We'll be with back to you in just a moment. 202 00:12:55,950 --> 00:13:00,490 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 203 00:13:00,850 --> 00:13:02,010 uncommon conversations. 204 00:13:02,570 --> 00:13:06,010 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 205 00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:09,300 When it comes to buying a home, 206 00:13:09,650 --> 00:13:12,540 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 207 00:13:12,890 --> 00:13:17,580 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 208 00:13:17,580 --> 00:13:22,540 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 209 00:13:22,890 --> 00:13:27,860 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 210 00:13:28,110 --> 00:13:30,580 flaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 211 00:13:30,850 --> 00:13:34,940 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 212 00:13:35,260 --> 00:13:36,460 dangerous wiring, 213 00:13:36,830 --> 00:13:41,700 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 214 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:45,380 home inspector. 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For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 262 00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:46,400 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 263 00:16:46,690 --> 00:16:48,600 or visit us online at 264 00:16:49,260 --> 00:16:52,320 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. 265 00:16:52,670 --> 00:16:55,640 Find us also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, 266 00:16:55,970 --> 00:16:59,560 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 267 00:17:03,170 --> 00:17:04,960 Believe in the political world, 268 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:10,480 don't have any place believing in time commit crimes 269 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:19,873 world. 270 00:17:19,910 --> 00:17:20,400 Well, 271 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:25,200 thanks for sticking with us here on commonalities on five 90 am W N B S 272 00:17:25,220 --> 00:17:27,120 1 0 1 0.1 fm, 273 00:17:27,120 --> 00:17:30,400 and any place you download your favorite podcasts. 274 00:17:30,930 --> 00:17:35,200 My guest today is Representative Eric Nelson of Westmoreland County, 275 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,800 and we've been talking a little bit about the politics of, 276 00:17:40,010 --> 00:17:44,840 uh, the hydrogen opportunity that could happen here in southwestern Pennsylvania 277 00:17:45,020 --> 00:17:49,720 and what that would mean for middle class jobs. Um, Eric, 278 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,160 before we went to the break, you mentioned that, uh, 279 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,360 there was a bipartisan effort that, uh, 280 00:17:56,390 --> 00:17:59,400 came about to bring, um, 281 00:18:00,370 --> 00:18:05,160 to bring this hydrogen opportunity or the credit that we voted on last 282 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:06,560 session. Um, 283 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,600 what do you think is going to happen with that in this coming session? 284 00:18:11,140 --> 00:18:16,000 And do you think there will continue to be bipartisan support for this 285 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:16,833 opportunity? 286 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:22,060 Yes, yes, I do. We were really fortunate. I mean, 287 00:18:22,310 --> 00:18:26,020 despite what sometimes makes and fills the news, um, 288 00:18:26,020 --> 00:18:29,780 that it's just too extreme sides slugging it out there, 289 00:18:29,780 --> 00:18:34,780 there are a lot of people that are willing to work across the aisle to 290 00:18:34,780 --> 00:18:38,860 be able to win for their constituents and for Pennsylvania, and, 291 00:18:38,860 --> 00:18:41,980 and that's what we're, we're looking and striving to do. 292 00:18:42,230 --> 00:18:45,100 There's a multi-billion dollar, I mean, 293 00:18:45,100 --> 00:18:49,880 literally hundreds of thousands of man hours of both construction work. 294 00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:54,550 And when people are working, they're buying dds. They're, 295 00:18:54,550 --> 00:18:57,030 they're putting in swimming pools, they're buying trucks, 296 00:18:57,320 --> 00:18:59,350 they're building new hotels. 297 00:18:59,350 --> 00:19:03,990 And if we look at the last multiple years of the cracker build, 298 00:19:04,940 --> 00:19:08,790 a hydrogen hub can do wanders for an economy, 299 00:19:08,790 --> 00:19:12,710 and we're in the midst of a recession. Um, unfortunately, 300 00:19:12,710 --> 00:19:16,790 however you wanna slice it or dice it, it's about working family jobs, 301 00:19:16,790 --> 00:19:21,670 continuing to work and to provide, and then keeping people here in Pennsylvania. 302 00:19:21,850 --> 00:19:26,050 And that's what's really driving this bipartisan effort. 303 00:19:26,630 --> 00:19:31,490 Responsible environmentally responsible production and development, 304 00:19:31,860 --> 00:19:36,610 um, is key to the future because people want to buy lower carbon items. 305 00:19:36,830 --> 00:19:40,130 And using new technology to make low carbon, 306 00:19:40,130 --> 00:19:45,130 plastic and steel is our pathway to be able to have a boatload 307 00:19:45,180 --> 00:19:49,570 of not only construction work, but those downstream manufacturing jobs, 308 00:19:49,570 --> 00:19:51,410 the key people here in Pennsylvania. 309 00:19:52,890 --> 00:19:57,710 Now, to be able to, uh, to go to work, to go to those jobs, uh, 310 00:19:57,710 --> 00:20:01,550 if you have children, you need childcare. And I know, uh, 311 00:20:01,550 --> 00:20:05,430 that the childcare cliff, uh, provides, uh, a problem, 312 00:20:05,430 --> 00:20:08,790 especially for single parents here in Pennsylvania. 313 00:20:08,890 --> 00:20:11,710 And as a member of the Labor and Industry Committee, 314 00:20:11,980 --> 00:20:15,430 I know this is something that you've been looking at and, uh, 315 00:20:15,430 --> 00:20:17,350 some legislation has been developing. 316 00:20:17,610 --> 00:20:22,550 Why don't you talk a little bit about the childcare cliff and how 317 00:20:22,550 --> 00:20:24,510 we solve that problem here in Pennsylvania? 318 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:28,630 Sure. And, and as a small business guy, um, 319 00:20:28,660 --> 00:20:33,150 I first learned of the childcare cliff after giving an employee a raise, 320 00:20:33,650 --> 00:20:38,230 and she declined it or said, I won't be able to work here as much. 321 00:20:38,250 --> 00:20:41,430 And I was completely baffled. I was like, Hey, you're doing a great job. 322 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,710 We wanna give you a raise. And she's like, 323 00:20:44,140 --> 00:20:47,200 I can't do that because if I earn too much money, money, 324 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:48,680 I'm gonna lose my childcare. 325 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:53,880 And small businesses and larger corporations are struggling with this 326 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,600 same issue. Where right now, in Pennsylvania, 327 00:20:56,630 --> 00:21:01,410 government is the biggest glass ceiling we have because if 328 00:21:01,410 --> 00:21:06,330 you have children that are receiving and you are lower income and 329 00:21:06,330 --> 00:21:08,210 you are receiving a childcare benefit, 330 00:21:08,860 --> 00:21:13,610 if you earn above a given government set threshold for more than 331 00:21:13,610 --> 00:21:17,970 six months, the government resins your childcare. 332 00:21:18,350 --> 00:21:21,770 And so people who are working have a choice, and it's, 333 00:21:21,770 --> 00:21:25,530 it's really three choices, which are three struggle points in the economy. 334 00:21:26,330 --> 00:21:27,163 They can 335 00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:31,950 quit that job and keep their childcare. 336 00:21:32,300 --> 00:21:35,870 They can tell the employer that they can only work less, 337 00:21:37,150 --> 00:21:41,010 and then they can also say, I'll begin to work under the table. 338 00:21:41,470 --> 00:21:45,490 And the underground economy presents its own challenges, 339 00:21:45,830 --> 00:21:49,610 but part of Pennsylvania's biggest struggle right now are getting people to 340 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:52,610 reengage into the workforce itself. 341 00:21:52,870 --> 00:21:57,290 And when government is the roadblock, because right now, 342 00:21:57,620 --> 00:22:01,290 if a single mother or a, you know, a couple that's working, 343 00:22:01,780 --> 00:22:05,930 if they earn $50 more than the government threshold, 344 00:22:06,060 --> 00:22:10,770 they'll lose their entire childcare. I have had seven kids, 345 00:22:11,110 --> 00:22:15,730 and some we use childcare. My wife was fortunate to be off for some of 'em. 346 00:22:15,730 --> 00:22:17,770 Everybody follows their own pathway. 347 00:22:18,510 --> 00:22:23,370 But if you start making $150 more a month, 348 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:24,850 like that's great, 349 00:22:24,870 --> 00:22:29,490 but it takes people a while to continue to earn in order 350 00:22:29,690 --> 00:22:34,250 for them to work their way out of a lower income status. 351 00:22:34,710 --> 00:22:39,650 And so the addressing and confronting the childcare cliff is 352 00:22:39,650 --> 00:22:43,610 in what I feel, a, a strong bipartisan effort. 353 00:22:43,610 --> 00:22:48,610 We've been working with, um, democratic senior individuals, 354 00:22:48,910 --> 00:22:52,990 the House Black Caucus, to be able to say, 355 00:22:53,030 --> 00:22:58,030 let's create a pathway where if someone has a better job and they get 356 00:22:58,030 --> 00:23:02,510 to that six month mark, they can continue to keep their childcare benefits, 357 00:23:02,530 --> 00:23:06,940 but begin to participate in a copay. The benefit of a copay, 358 00:23:07,140 --> 00:23:11,340 let's say 10%, that they would continue for the next six months, 359 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:16,540 allows that person or that family to earn more money to be 360 00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:19,580 able to fix their car, get a better apartment, 361 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:23,540 get their legs underneath themselves, and even into year two, 362 00:23:24,310 --> 00:23:26,420 if they keep that job for a year, 363 00:23:26,610 --> 00:23:30,860 they could keep their childcare and then the second year 364 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,990 pay 25%. Now, 365 00:23:33,990 --> 00:23:38,910 the great part about copay is it allows someone to continue to 366 00:23:38,910 --> 00:23:40,470 work and to continue to earn. 367 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:45,590 It also allows private dollars to contribute to 368 00:23:45,750 --> 00:23:50,750 childcare versus continually raising government 369 00:23:50,750 --> 00:23:55,630 paid childcare and then taxes on people to be able to supply the 370 00:23:55,630 --> 00:23:58,750 childcare. So that's, it's a very basic concept, 371 00:23:59,050 --> 00:24:04,030 but it is establishing a reliable and consistent pathway so 372 00:24:04,350 --> 00:24:07,950 that lower income earners can begin to earn more. 373 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:10,970 So, just a quick, 374 00:24:10,970 --> 00:24:14,810 quick example of the financial cliff that exists. 375 00:24:14,810 --> 00:24:18,970 And it doesn't only exist in childcare, it exists with healthcare, 376 00:24:18,970 --> 00:24:22,890 it exists with a lot of other things, um, right outta college. Uh, 377 00:24:22,890 --> 00:24:27,410 going back here now, uh, over a decade or so ago, uh, 378 00:24:27,410 --> 00:24:31,970 I took a job for TeleTech as a training and quality assurance, uh, 379 00:24:31,970 --> 00:24:36,970 manager and I trained new hires for 30 days before they 380 00:24:36,970 --> 00:24:39,290 went onto the call center floor. Uh, 381 00:24:39,290 --> 00:24:42,250 TeleTech is now T Tech still located here in this area, 382 00:24:42,790 --> 00:24:47,210 but on day three of training, we would have our hr, 383 00:24:47,780 --> 00:24:48,150 uh, 384 00:24:48,150 --> 00:24:52,850 representatives come in and talk about the benefits that our company 385 00:24:52,850 --> 00:24:55,290 offered. And we offered, uh, 386 00:24:55,320 --> 00:25:00,210 very good healthcare at the time for anyone after 30 days 387 00:25:00,210 --> 00:25:02,410 of employment. And on day three, 388 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:07,210 I used to have people that would leave class and not come back 389 00:25:07,210 --> 00:25:12,090 again because they realized that if they accepted the benefits that come along 390 00:25:12,090 --> 00:25:15,290 with this job, uh, they would no, 391 00:25:15,290 --> 00:25:19,370 they would no longer receive their government benefits. And, uh, 392 00:25:19,380 --> 00:25:22,730 so they would quit the job on day three before, uh, 393 00:25:22,730 --> 00:25:27,370 before they even got onto the call center floor. My point is, 394 00:25:27,420 --> 00:25:32,210 as a, a young Republican, as a conservative, uh, I used to think, 395 00:25:32,210 --> 00:25:34,970 man, look at these lazy people that don't wanna work. 396 00:25:35,470 --> 00:25:38,890 And as time has gone by, and as I have, uh, 397 00:25:38,890 --> 00:25:42,290 developed more experiences and become wiser, uh, 398 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:47,130 I look at the fact that what they were doing just made good 399 00:25:47,130 --> 00:25:51,690 financial sense. And as a fiscal conservative, I have to say, I, 400 00:25:51,690 --> 00:25:56,450 I give them props for doing the math and knowing that keeping that job 401 00:25:56,450 --> 00:25:59,450 was actually going to cost them money. Uh, 402 00:25:59,450 --> 00:26:03,490 so these financial cliffs or hurdles are something that we have to deal with, 403 00:26:03,490 --> 00:26:06,250 whether it be in childcare, healthcare, et cetera. 404 00:26:07,140 --> 00:26:10,210 Oh, and, and unfortunately, 405 00:26:10,790 --> 00:26:15,530 one of the evils of government is government needs to have people 406 00:26:15,890 --> 00:26:19,130 dependent on itself in order to provide more government. 407 00:26:19,500 --> 00:26:24,290 So it doesn't matter whether you're looking at a Republican view or a 408 00:26:24,290 --> 00:26:25,123 democratic view, 409 00:26:26,620 --> 00:26:31,350 government wants individuals that have to rely on it 410 00:26:31,350 --> 00:26:36,030 because it keeps government then as the most essential thing in that family's 411 00:26:36,030 --> 00:26:40,550 lives, and that we're actually stealing the liberty and liberty. To me, 412 00:26:40,620 --> 00:26:45,080 that's the ability to pursue one's individual happiness, 413 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:46,480 which is different for everyone. 414 00:26:46,940 --> 00:26:51,800 But when government sets mandatory thresholds and tells a 415 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,000 family, if you make a hundred dollars more a month, 416 00:26:55,060 --> 00:26:57,760 you are going to lose several hundred dollars a week. 417 00:26:58,330 --> 00:27:03,120 We are disincentivizing people to be able to 418 00:27:03,390 --> 00:27:05,840 pursue their own happiness and their own dreams, 419 00:27:05,910 --> 00:27:08,880 like home ownership or a car, 420 00:27:09,490 --> 00:27:14,000 or just even the ability to be able to live in a safer neighborhood. 421 00:27:14,060 --> 00:27:18,870 And that's really frustrating to me. I recognize, um, you know, 422 00:27:18,870 --> 00:27:23,830 the, the battles of old where people will just club each other 423 00:27:24,090 --> 00:27:25,990 and say, no, you don't. 424 00:27:25,990 --> 00:27:29,870 You don't care about low income people or you have no heart at all. 425 00:27:30,090 --> 00:27:32,830 And actually, I have a pretty big heart, 426 00:27:32,890 --> 00:27:36,350 and I've seen how people have been stuck and trapped, 427 00:27:36,530 --> 00:27:40,550 and they're trapped in public housing. They are not allowed to earn more. 428 00:27:40,610 --> 00:27:44,110 And so then they get driven to the underground economy. 429 00:27:44,250 --> 00:27:47,830 And the underground economy is an unsafe place. 430 00:27:48,170 --> 00:27:51,190 Bad things happen there. People are taken advantage of. 431 00:27:51,450 --> 00:27:55,910 And some of the worst employment practices that we have in the state happen 432 00:27:56,030 --> 00:27:59,790 under the table, and they're all interconnected. You know, 433 00:27:59,790 --> 00:28:04,590 we are so blessed to have great families across the board, like, 434 00:28:04,590 --> 00:28:08,870 and whether you are a wealthy family or you are a lower income family, 435 00:28:09,130 --> 00:28:12,350 you love your children and you want the best for them. 436 00:28:12,650 --> 00:28:17,390 But when children grow up in a house where their parents have been 437 00:28:17,390 --> 00:28:22,260 beaten down by government glass ceilings, then they get, 438 00:28:22,770 --> 00:28:27,180 they get the mindset that they are going to be stuck in this same thing too. 439 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,980 And the way that we begin to turn around is by using our western 440 00:28:31,980 --> 00:28:35,340 Pennsylvania work ethic, which is nationally known, 441 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,810 and the basic principles of the Constitution, which is life, 442 00:28:40,810 --> 00:28:42,730 liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 443 00:28:43,230 --> 00:28:48,010 All we have to do is get government to agree just a little bit 444 00:28:48,460 --> 00:28:50,130 to allow people to work more. 445 00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:55,230 Now, you touched a little bit on a buzzword, um, 446 00:28:55,290 --> 00:28:58,430 underground economy, and, uh, 447 00:28:58,430 --> 00:29:02,190 and that's referring to the people who are working under the table and that 448 00:29:02,190 --> 00:29:06,950 underground economy is taking advantage of something called the U 449 00:29:06,980 --> 00:29:11,230 E G F. And before we were, uh, here on the show, 450 00:29:11,230 --> 00:29:13,190 you and I were talking a little bit about that. 451 00:29:13,340 --> 00:29:17,310 I want to get to the topic of U E G F. 452 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:19,750 As soon as we get back from this next break. 453 00:29:22,530 --> 00:29:26,950 You are listening to commonalities for guests Find Common Ground through 454 00:29:27,550 --> 00:29:28,750 Uncommon Conversations. 455 00:29:29,270 --> 00:29:32,750 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 456 00:29:34,060 --> 00:29:36,030 When it comes to buying a home, 457 00:29:36,420 --> 00:29:39,470 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 458 00:29:39,780 --> 00:29:44,280 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 459 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:49,200 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 460 00:29:49,590 --> 00:29:54,560 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 461 00:29:54,810 --> 00:29:57,240 flaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 462 00:29:57,510 --> 00:30:01,600 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 463 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:03,160 dangerous wiring, 464 00:30:03,530 --> 00:30:08,360 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 465 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:12,040 home inspector. 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Uh, 526 00:34:04,850 --> 00:34:08,030 representative Nelson, before we went to the break, uh, 527 00:34:08,030 --> 00:34:13,030 I kind of teased that we'd be talking about the U E G F fund. Um, 528 00:34:13,060 --> 00:34:17,190 I guess you don't have to say fund, that's like saying a t m machine, 529 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,630 um, because the F stands for fun. 530 00:34:20,630 --> 00:34:24,990 But why don't you tell us a little bit about U E G F and some of the problems 531 00:34:24,990 --> 00:34:25,823 with that. 532 00:34:26,570 --> 00:34:30,660 Like we should probably start this next segment by giving your listeners a 533 00:34:30,660 --> 00:34:35,140 warning because U E G F sounds incredibly boring. 534 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:38,350 And then once we, you know, 535 00:34:38,350 --> 00:34:42,750 like recognize what's happening within what is referred to as the 536 00:34:42,790 --> 00:34:47,790 uninsured employers guaranteed fund a result on what's happening to legitimate 537 00:34:47,990 --> 00:34:51,590 employers in Pennsylvania, it makes you very frustrating. 538 00:34:51,860 --> 00:34:56,550 I never really knew about U EEG F or the UN 539 00:34:56,830 --> 00:35:00,350 uninsured employers guaranteed fund. It's a pretty boring, 540 00:35:01,050 --> 00:35:02,510 you know, topic line. 541 00:35:02,690 --> 00:35:07,390 But what Pennsylvania did with good intentions back in 2006 542 00:35:07,770 --> 00:35:12,590 was they created a fund for workers who were injured by unscrupulous 543 00:35:12,870 --> 00:35:14,150 employers, bad employers, 544 00:35:14,250 --> 00:35:18,390 who did not provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees. 545 00:35:19,380 --> 00:35:23,800 And it guarantees medical coverage and it also 546 00:35:24,150 --> 00:35:26,640 pays compensation or wages, you know, 547 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:31,580 workers' comp wages for those injured workers who were 548 00:35:31,580 --> 00:35:35,820 working for an employer that didn't meet their obligations. Now, 549 00:35:35,850 --> 00:35:38,080 fast forward to 2022. 550 00:35:38,380 --> 00:35:43,000 The U E G F fund is become a dumping ground 551 00:35:43,500 --> 00:35:46,440 for injured workers under the table. 552 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:51,600 Labor brokers and labor brokers are people who work in the cash economy 553 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:54,320 and supply either illegals, citizen labor, 554 00:35:54,730 --> 00:35:58,520 or workers who are working under the table for cash. 555 00:35:59,030 --> 00:36:03,950 Anyone who gets hurt in this underground economy now gets 556 00:36:03,950 --> 00:36:05,270 plugged into an attorney, 557 00:36:05,690 --> 00:36:10,590 and then that attorney ensures their medical bills and their 558 00:36:10,590 --> 00:36:11,510 payments are covered. 559 00:36:12,290 --> 00:36:17,230 The unfortunate part of it is this fund is paid for 560 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:21,830 by legitimate employers and Pennsylvania's independent employers. 561 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:26,840 So what's happening is our above table employers, 562 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:31,080 contractors, this happens a lot in construction, and our major employers, 563 00:36:31,530 --> 00:36:32,880 we, in 2018, 564 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:37,360 we actually increase the amount that they are required to pay in worker's comp 565 00:36:37,730 --> 00:36:42,240 to pay for the underground economy that is 566 00:36:42,860 --> 00:36:47,640 now running al over a million dollars in the red every year because 567 00:36:47,850 --> 00:36:52,080 so many workers are tapping into this system and getting paid, 568 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:54,440 and you don't even have to show proof of wages, 569 00:36:54,440 --> 00:36:56,360 and that's the goal of this bill. 570 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,540 Now, where is this, uh, this bill? 571 00:37:01,610 --> 00:37:06,380 I know it's a new legislative session, but, uh, has it been introduced? 572 00:37:06,430 --> 00:37:10,860 Is there bipartisan support? Have co-sponsors begun signing on yet? 573 00:37:11,810 --> 00:37:14,910 Yes. So, um, we're at the beginning of session, last session. 574 00:37:15,180 --> 00:37:16,310 I introduced the bill. 575 00:37:16,310 --> 00:37:20,430 We were able to advance it out of the Labor and Industry Committee and across 576 00:37:20,430 --> 00:37:23,670 the house with a strong bipartisan majority. 577 00:37:23,670 --> 00:37:28,550 And what the bill simply says is it's, it's referred to as proof of wages. 578 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:33,750 If an employee gets hurt and they were working for an 579 00:37:33,750 --> 00:37:38,750 unscrupulous employer, they no matter what are covered with their medical costs, 580 00:37:38,930 --> 00:37:41,350 but in order to receive compensation, 581 00:37:41,820 --> 00:37:45,750 they have to either prove through paycheck, 582 00:37:45,900 --> 00:37:48,390 direct deposit, legitimate, 583 00:37:48,740 --> 00:37:52,030 some means it could be a company shirt, 584 00:37:52,030 --> 00:37:55,110 some means of employment that they actually were working, 585 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:59,830 because right now you can just call it up and verbally 586 00:38:00,110 --> 00:38:02,830 say, I was working and I got hurt. 587 00:38:03,410 --> 00:38:08,310 And we start paying and providing medical coverage and there's 588 00:38:08,310 --> 00:38:09,150 no proof needed. 589 00:38:09,450 --> 00:38:14,190 And then who pays for it are legitimate businesses. It's, 590 00:38:14,190 --> 00:38:16,750 it's crazy, Matt, out of state, 591 00:38:16,750 --> 00:38:21,630 people are receiving U E G F funds 592 00:38:21,810 --> 00:38:24,790 and medical coverage paid for by Pennsylvania employers, 593 00:38:24,850 --> 00:38:29,030 and they don't even have to prove they were actually working or they were 594 00:38:29,030 --> 00:38:30,350 injured. It's nuts. 595 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:32,590 It it is nuts. 596 00:38:32,650 --> 00:38:37,280 But I think the important thing to remember is that that fund was set up, um, 597 00:38:37,340 --> 00:38:41,520 for good reason. And it is important because we do have, uh, 598 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:45,160 employers that aren't doing what they're required to, what they're supposed to. 599 00:38:45,690 --> 00:38:49,880 Um, for example, my wife, uh, Rebecca, who you know, um, 600 00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:52,880 was injured, uh, at work, um, 601 00:38:53,740 --> 00:38:57,800 she had slipped on ice, had fallen, uh, 602 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:01,160 was unconscious, had a concussion, uh, 603 00:39:01,180 --> 00:39:04,080 and had to be treated for several months, uh, 604 00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:08,520 due to that concussion and, uh, some lingering side effects that she had. 605 00:39:09,060 --> 00:39:09,800 And, uh, 606 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:14,200 despite the fact that she was an office manager for a doctor's office, 607 00:39:14,770 --> 00:39:18,240 um, that practice had let their, uh, 608 00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:23,160 workers' comp insurance lapse so this fund would've come into play. 609 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:28,040 Now, ultimately, through litigation, we were able to settle with the employer, 610 00:39:28,720 --> 00:39:30,800 although it took us two and a half years. Um, 611 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:35,440 but this fund is important for people that are in that situation where they're 612 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:40,240 doing everything right as the employee and the employer themselves is 613 00:39:40,300 --> 00:39:41,520 who would be in the wrong. 614 00:39:42,110 --> 00:39:43,760 Absolutely. And that's, 615 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:48,560 that's why we wouldn't want to eliminate this fund because good people, again, 616 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:53,200 middle class workers sometimes get hurt and they had no idea their 617 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:56,560 employer wasn't meeting their obligations, you know, 618 00:39:56,770 --> 00:39:58,720 so in that situation, 619 00:39:58,810 --> 00:40:02,080 if an employee is able to show proof of wages, 620 00:40:02,330 --> 00:40:07,120 it makes sure that legitimately injured workers are covered. Now, 621 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:11,920 what we included in the bill was a provision that if you 622 00:40:11,920 --> 00:40:14,480 can't prove anything at all, 623 00:40:15,220 --> 00:40:19,840 all you would have to do is sign an affidavit that says, 624 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:21,920 okay, who was that employer? 625 00:40:22,620 --> 00:40:27,560 And that allows then Pennsylvania labor and industry and 626 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:31,920 Pennsylvania existing departments to pursue that bad employer. 627 00:40:31,930 --> 00:40:36,480 Because right now you don't even need to say who you were working for. 628 00:40:37,050 --> 00:40:38,520 No one asked that question. 629 00:40:38,900 --> 00:40:43,640 And so it is a thriving system that 630 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:45,840 unfortunately there are two benefactors, 631 00:40:46,070 --> 00:40:50,320 people who are in the underground economy and attorneys 632 00:40:50,670 --> 00:40:55,360 that are filing the claims because an attorney who files this claim gets 633 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:59,600 20% of the cut for the length of the claim. 634 00:41:00,310 --> 00:41:03,370 And so you can see what's happening here, right? 635 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:08,650 Legitimate employers are having to pay more in their workers' compensation 636 00:41:08,940 --> 00:41:13,810 to pay 20% to the attorneys and all the rest 637 00:41:13,810 --> 00:41:18,020 for the medical bills of employers who are competing against them. 638 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:21,500 And so that's why we're seeking this very simple reform. 639 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:26,940 You either have to show proof that you actually were working or sign 640 00:41:26,940 --> 00:41:31,780 an affidavit with who your illegal employer was so that we can go after them. 641 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:36,050 And to me, everyone wins in that scenario. 642 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:40,740 And just a quick note, that 20% that you're talking about, uh, 643 00:41:40,740 --> 00:41:43,740 is actually statutorily set. Um, 644 00:41:43,740 --> 00:41:47,780 so you're not gonna find any attorney that will do it for less or do it for 645 00:41:47,780 --> 00:41:52,100 more. Um, they're guaranteed that 20% by statute, 646 00:41:52,510 --> 00:41:56,900 um, for any worker's comp case that they handle. Uh, 647 00:41:56,900 --> 00:42:01,100 we have to get one more quick break, and this one will be a quick one, uh, in, 648 00:42:01,100 --> 00:42:02,100 and then we'll come back. 649 00:42:02,100 --> 00:42:04,460 We have about four and a half minutes left in the show. 650 00:42:04,650 --> 00:42:09,380 I want to talk about Trade U Unions because we've been talking about middle 651 00:42:09,380 --> 00:42:14,140 class jobs, and I think that's a great avenue for people, uh, to go down. 652 00:42:14,140 --> 00:42:16,500 And I know you have a good relationship with the trade. 653 00:42:16,500 --> 00:42:18,420 So a quick break and we'll be right back. 654 00:42:20,450 --> 00:42:25,100 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 655 00:42:25,420 --> 00:42:26,620 uncommon conversations. 656 00:42:27,180 --> 00:42:30,500 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 657 00:42:33,260 --> 00:42:35,130 Founded in 1991, 658 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:39,570 bright Stripe has succeeded on the premises of quality work done right at an 659 00:42:39,570 --> 00:42:43,810 affordable cost At Bright Stripe. Personal service has always been a must. 660 00:42:44,260 --> 00:42:48,090 We strive to be the premier asphalt ceiling and striping company in the region. 661 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:51,210 Matt George, the owner of Brights Stripe, l l c, 662 00:42:51,240 --> 00:42:54,170 brings experience from his construction and maintenance company, 663 00:42:54,200 --> 00:42:56,370 mounting Creek Construction and Maintenance. 664 00:42:56,640 --> 00:43:00,490 Matt has provided excellent customer service to many happy businesses and 665 00:43:00,490 --> 00:43:01,240 homeowners. 666 00:43:01,240 --> 00:43:04,890 Bright Stripe is the premier provider of seal coating or pavement ceiling. 667 00:43:04,990 --> 00:43:08,810 The process of applying a protective coating to asphalt based pavements to 668 00:43:08,810 --> 00:43:12,770 provide a layer of protection from the elements, water, oils, and UV damage. 669 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:16,170 They also specialize in driveway and parking lot. Crack ceiling. 670 00:43:16,370 --> 00:43:20,290 Crack ceiling is the process of applying a protective coating to asphalt based 671 00:43:20,290 --> 00:43:21,000 pavements. 672 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:25,330 Bright stripe also abides by all safety laws and standards in line striping and 673 00:43:25,330 --> 00:43:29,250 layout for a no obligation estimate, contact Bright Stripe at 674 00:43:29,250 --> 00:43:32,690 7 2 4 4 3 7 6 0 9 0. 675 00:43:35,690 --> 00:43:37,780 You're listening to commonalities. 676 00:43:37,780 --> 00:43:42,140 And my guest today is representative Eric Nelson, a friend of mine, a uh, 677 00:43:42,140 --> 00:43:46,260 former colleague from the 57th Legislative District in Westmoreland County. 678 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:50,580 And, uh, Eric, we have about two minutes and 40 seconds. 679 00:43:50,610 --> 00:43:54,060 I wanted to talk a little bit about the trades and, uh, 680 00:43:54,060 --> 00:43:58,620 trade unions and the opportunities that they provide since our topic today 681 00:43:58,830 --> 00:44:00,180 is middle class jobs. 682 00:44:01,710 --> 00:44:05,400 Absolutely. It's, you know, one of the initiatives in, 683 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:06,960 in the real world and working. 684 00:44:06,960 --> 00:44:11,200 We've worked with both union employers and non-union employers, 685 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:13,080 and when we talk about middle class jobs, 686 00:44:13,580 --> 00:44:16,600 everybody's on the same page of music here. You know, I'm a, 687 00:44:16,700 --> 00:44:19,840 I'm a supporter of the trades. 688 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:24,720 If we're gonna build a refinery and we need 300 certified welders to 689 00:44:24,720 --> 00:44:28,760 be able to make sure they're gonna do quality welds on what could be an 690 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:29,680 explosive system, 691 00:44:29,910 --> 00:44:34,470 you're gonna want a union coming in here and supplying that label and 692 00:44:34,790 --> 00:44:35,530 coordinating it. And, 693 00:44:35,530 --> 00:44:39,830 and we in Western Pennsylvania have been able to demonstrate to the nation 694 00:44:40,220 --> 00:44:44,750 that our trades can get work done quicker and faster 695 00:44:44,780 --> 00:44:49,390 than bringing in a ton of workers from out-of-state in the south 696 00:44:49,770 --> 00:44:52,790 and taking longer to do a lower quality job. 697 00:44:54,030 --> 00:44:55,400 Yeah, and, and you know, 698 00:44:55,400 --> 00:45:00,360 I keep just reminding young people when I talk to them that that's a great way 699 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:03,240 to get an education, to become an apprentice apprentice, 700 00:45:03,330 --> 00:45:08,040 to move through those trade unions and gain the skills that you need. Uh, 701 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:11,480 and they provide excellent service, uh, 702 00:45:11,580 --> 00:45:15,480 for our industries here in southwestern Pennsylvania. 703 00:45:15,810 --> 00:45:18,640 We are out of time for the day. Uh, representative Nelson, 704 00:45:18,670 --> 00:45:22,440 I wanna thank you for, uh, your service in the Pennsylvania House. 705 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:25,800 Thank you for your military service. I see here in my notes, 706 00:45:26,040 --> 00:45:27,880 although we didn't get to talk about it, uh, 707 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:32,600 that you were an M one A one tanker military policeman, and, uh, 708 00:45:32,870 --> 00:45:36,200 a infantry demolitions, uh, expert. 709 00:45:36,490 --> 00:45:39,680 So thank you for all of your service. Thank you for your friendship. 710 00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:41,680 And thank you for being on today's show. 711 00:45:41,830 --> 00:45:46,560 You've been listening to commonalities on Wmb S five 90 712 00:45:47,050 --> 00:45:49,640 am 1 0 1 0.1 fm. 713 00:45:54,910 --> 00:45:56,960 This has been Commonalities, 714 00:45:57,230 --> 00:46:01,480 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 715 00:46:01,560 --> 00:46:04,360 Copyright 2022 Coordinated 360, 716 00:46:04,580 --> 00:46:08,000 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 717 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:08,600 Dowling. 718 00:46:08,600 --> 00:46:13,040 All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 719 00:46:13,040 --> 00:46:15,440 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
27Dec, 2022
