Rep. Diamond names small businesses as priority for new legislative session

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Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) took the oath of office Tuesday to begin the 2019-20 legislative session in the state House of Representatives and noted that he would focus on problems facing small businesses in the upcoming legislative session.

“Our small business owners continue to face challenges when attempting to expand,” Diamond said. “In some cases, the roadblocks come from trying to acquire required permitting to build – permitting that can take years instead of the few months it takes in neighboring states. Other times, tax burdens stand in the way of job creation. Problems facing small business owners will continue to be my focus in the new legislative session.”

Diamond also named as top priorities updating the Commonwealth’s system of property taxation and eliminating governmental waste, fraud, and abuse.

The House will return to a new voting session on Jan. 15. Diamond has not yet been assigned to committees. Last session, he served on the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Gaming Oversight, Local Government, and Tourism and Recreational Development committees.

This will be Diamond’s third term working for the 102nd Legislative District.

Tuesday’s proceedings also included the formal election of Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) as House speaker as well as voting on rules to govern the body for the next two years.