On the last voting day of the session, local lawmakers working in Harrisburg are trying to pass legislationthat would entice new businesses to relocate to the commonwealth.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff told 6News that House Bill 2626, known as the Promoting Employment Across Pennsylvania bill, would act as an incentive and allow businesses that move to Pennsylvania and create new jobs to keep 95 percent of their employees' state personal income tax, which is usually withheld in their paychecks and sent to Harrisburg.

"Pennsylvania is plagued with the fact that we've got high tax burdens on our businesses, we've got high litigative problems and our health care costs are pretty high," said Benninghoff. ""We have to make ourselves more competitive by being creative while dropping our tax burden on these companies, but that's not happening fast enough; they go to other states."

Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County President Vern Squier told 6News that inciting legislation is needed to compete with states that offer lucrative incentives for businesses, like Kansas and Michigan.

"We know this tool works. We know other states have it," said Squier. "We know it has performed. It's that kind of tool that we're trying to advance in the legislature."
 
Benninghoff said if HB 2626 doesn't make the deadline, it will be a top priority to push through in 2013.

"If they don't have any skin in the game, if they don't earn it, they get nothing. This is not a program where the taxpayers are trying to buy you to come to Pennsylvania, giving you cash to come to Pennsylvania," said Benninghoff. "These companies have to make an investment here."