It’s been 27 years since Brian Abela stepped into the Keystone State as a fresh-faced Western Michigan University grad ready to volunteer for Gov. Tom Ridge’s reelection campaign. With a Ridge win, Abela got started in Pennsylvania government and politics as he landed a position at the Labor and Industry Department where he dove into understanding the legislature and nitty-gritty issues important to business and workers alike including unemployment compensation, workers compensation and PA Building Code issues. His growing expertise eventually led to his being tapped as the department’s director of legislative affairs.
Post-Ridge, Brian looked to exercise his legislative knowledge and affinity for playing a role in meaningful public policy and joined Bravo’s fledgling government relations practice. More than two decades later, Brian still serves some of Bravo’s original clients, like Enterprise Holdings.
But across his career, it’s been Brian’s leadership in educational issues and creating opportunities for students to access high-quality schools of their choice that have garnered him recognition and respect. He continues to work with several leading school choice organizations and charter schools to defend the rights of parents and students and has successfully advocated to minimize significant funding cuts proposed for cyber charter schools.
A perfect example of Brian’s commitment to Pennsylvania’s students is his advocacy for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC) — the Commonwealth’s primary school choice program that provides scholarships for students to attend the school of their choice. EITC’s funding has increased by over $450 million in the two decades Brian’s been with Bravo.
Brian’s impact hasn’t been limited to Pennsylvania’s education community. He has touched countless public policy initiatives that have made progress in people’s lives. His success with these especially resonate:
- Advocated for passage of legislation to level the playing field between rental vehicle taxes and those for peer-to-peer rental vehicles – car-sharing services like Turo.
- Advocated to defeat proposals to increase Pennsylvania’s rental vehicle and lease tax.
- Successfully advocated for the passage of legislation requiring carbon monoxide alarms in rental properties in Pennsylvania and also advocated for other public safety initiatives.
- Led an effort to pass legislation to significantly improve PA’s Steel Procurement Act, the Commonwealth’s Buy American steel law.
- Secured funding for a significant infrastructure project that improved traffic flow and public safety in Southeast PA.
- Helped create and lead the Pennsylvania Steel Alliance, a labor and management organization that is Pennsylvania’s primary steel industry advocate.
- Successfully led Bravo Group’s effort on behalf of a client advocating for significant pension reforms in PA, positioning the state as a leader on pension reform issues.
- Led Bravo Group’s successful effort on behalf of a client to implement PA’s online voter registration system, now a well-established registration option.
On the horizon:
Gazing into his crystal ball, Brian sees the following topics moving their way to the top of the legislative agenda in 2025.
- Potential budget deficit – The Independent Fiscal Office has indicated it believes PA’s spending will exceed its revenue by approximately $3 billion this fiscal year. If this projection materializes, lawmakers will find themselves charged with addressing a deficit, a situation they have not faced for several years.
- Road, bridge and public transit funding – There will be a major push to generate new funding for these initiatives this year.
- Revenue generators – As previously mentioned, the potential for a budget deficit exists which may create a need to identify revenue generators. Two issues frequently discussed over the last several years to drive funds to the Commonwealth are legalizing marijuana and regulating skill games.
