Defending the Pittsburgh area taxpayers and businesses against the burdensome taxation and regulation of Big Government

Summary: Policy Brief Vol. 26, No. 32, highlighted numerous potential problems with the Allegheny County Board of Health’s (board) proposed paid parental leave policy. On Sept. 16, the board unveiled a revised proposal that would still be among the most generous in the nation. The revised plan – plus two small amendments – was approved by the board at a Sept. 28 special meeting. It was then approved by County Council’s health committee on Oct. 8. The measure will soon move to the council for a final vote.

Introduction: In the late 1990s, the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), with a newly constructed terminal from earlier in the decade, posted much higher passenger counts than it has seen in recent years. Of course, USAirways had a hub during that period.  From 1996 to 1998, PIT averaged 20.6 million passengers (enplanements and deplanements) per year. In 2000 and 2001, annual passengers averaged just over 19 million. In 2002 passenger counts began to slip, falling to 7.9 million in 2009 as USAirways entered bankruptcy.