State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, D-12th, joined with other lawmakers and others Wednesday at a rally that called for ending the practice of compulsory unionism in Pennsylvania.The rally was at the state Capitol to officially reintroduce several bills as part of the Pennsylvania Open Workforce Initiative."The unmovable foundation on which we will continue to advance the Pennsylvania Open Workforce Initiative is preserving and expanding individual liberty," Metcalfe said in a news release."The framers of our Constitution did not intend for our government to become an enforcer for unions. Working men and women should have the freedom to join a union if they choose and to leave that union when it is in their best interest to do so. They should not have to fear losing their jobs or not being able to provide for their families because of forced unionism."Others participating were representatives from Pennsylvanians for Right to Work, The Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Americans for Tax Reform, Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Associated Builders and Contractors.The legislation would:No longer require employment be conditional upon membership or non-membership in a union, nor upon payment or non-payment of money to a labor organization.Return the individual decision of whether or not to join or support a labor union to teachers and other public education employees.Amend the Administrative Code of 1929 to eliminate the authority to impose forced fees on state employees.Return the individual freedom of choice to all local, municipal, county and township employees to decide for themselves which private organizations they want to support and preventing the collection of compulsory union dues.

Legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-11th, that would grant a tax credit to manufacturers who provide qualified training to employees, was passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives.The measure is part of the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative that encourages economic growth and job creation."This bill focuses on those Pennsylvania manufacturing firms that want to privately provide their employees with the opportunity to enhance their training and education," Ellis said in a news release.Under the legislation, companies will be able to take the career development credit against the corporate net income tax, capitol stock and franchise tax, and personal income tax for expenses incurred as a result of training workers by the private sector.Leaders in the state House will unveil an updated KMI package on April 11. Legislators will join with business leaders and manufacturing advocates to promote the bill package as the next step for Pennsylvania to retain and increase the number of good, family-sustaining jobs.The state Senate Banking and Insurance Committee recently approved legislation that would give Pennsylvanians more control of their health care by allowing them to set up health savings accounts.The accounts would be exempt from the state personal income tax, according to state Sen.

Bob Robbins, R-50th, co-sponsor of the measure."The federal government already provided for Health Savings Accounts and so do many state governments," he said in a news release. "It's time that Pennsylvania takes this step to allow people to make personal decisions on the best way to provide for their health care expenses."Under the legislation, employers and/or employees could pay into health savings accounts with banks and insurance companies or with other entities by the IRS to hold individual retirement accounts.Interest on the accounts would be tax-exempt and withdrawals would also be tax-free if they are used for medical or dental diagnosis, cure and treatment. The money could also be used tax-free to cover the costs of equipment, supplies and diagnostic devices.The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.