Tom Corbett does not believe a $28 billion state budget recently passed by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives will fly in a Senate ruled by Republicans.
“It increases spending by another billion dollars when revenues are coming up a billion dollars short,” the Pennsylvania Attorney General and candidate for the Republican nomination for state governor said during a visit to the Gettysburg Times office Tuesday morning.
The spending plan is greater than last year’s budget that was not approved until more than 100 days past the June 30 deadline,
“The budget’s about this thick,” he said with fingers spread about three inches apart. “To go through it, some of it could be different priorities of funding.”
Corbett referenced Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner’s findings that many who receive state aid are actually not eligible, according to the guidelines.
“I think he said 14 percent of the Medicaid people are ineligible for their benefits. If you recovered 4 percent of that, that’s $400 million. That’s a good start right there. It’s a matter of where are we spending? What can we cut? And where are we spending money that we shouldn’t be spending money whatsoever?”
With the May 18 gubernatorial primary election looming, Corbett sees himself as a “son of Pennsylvania” who has strong ties to his native state. He was born in Philadelphia, attended Lebanon Valley College and has lived in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
“When you’re governor, you have to govern for the entire state. Whether rightfully or wrongfully, governors have governed for certain regions. I think I can claim the entire state,” Corbett said.
While he believes the casino proposed for Gettysburg may bring jobs and revenue, Corbett does not see it as a legitimate way to fix economic issues.
“I have never been a big proponent that gambling is gonna solve the property tax woes in Pennsylvania. In my mind, it hasn’t done that. The jobs that come from gaming are service-type jobs. I’m looking at much more family-sustaining jobs than that,” he said.
He talked about how the growth of the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan areas will affect Adams County and how Adams County has become a suburb of the two cities.
“As I understand, our taxes in the long run will be much more affordable than they are in Maryland. You’re gonna see people coming into southern Adams, Franklin and York counties and making commutes into Baltimore and Washington. You really have to understand how you play in a market that isn’t necessarily Harrisburg-oriented but is southern Adams and Frederick and D.C. oriented.”
Corbett feels his opponent in the Republican Primary, State Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-128, lacks the executive experience that it takes to govern a state.
“I have won statewide now twice,” Corbett said. “Mr. Rohrer has no experience running statewide. He has 17 years in the House, so he’s never been in an executive role. I think he’s gonna have a difficult time in the primary.”
Mark Walters may be reached at mwalters@gburg times.com.
