Corbett campaigns here for new 'firsts'

Pennsylvania hosted the nation's first superhighway, stock exchange, oil well and agricultural society.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett told local business people Friday he wants to see other new firsts in Pennsylvania, as he kicks off a more intensive campaign for governor.

"I am running for governor because I want the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to celebrate new successes," Corbett said during his speech at the annual meeting of the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County.

Corbett's stop at the EDC event at Willow Valley Resort is part of a planned crisscross of the state in coming weeks, in advance of the Feb. 13 GOP state committee endorsement meeting.

Next week, Corbett visits Philadelphia and Bucks County, followed by visits to Pittsburgh, State College and Lititz in upcoming weeks.

Corbett is expected to easily gain the state party's nod, particularly after U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach announced Thursday he was dropping out of the GOP race due to a lack of sufficient campaign cash.

Now the attorney general faces only state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County, not considered a serious contender by most party leaders, in the May primary.

During his remarks, Corbett referred to his campaign against corruption. A recent probe headed by his office unveiled the Capitol's largest public corruption scandal in three decades that involved government officials using taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns.

"With your help and partnership, as the next governor," Corbett said, "I will restore faith, trust and accountability in Harrisburg."

But Corbett focused many of his comments on other issues, mainly the economy and jobs, particularly "family sustaining jobs."

He praised Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, saying graduates have skills that allow them to enter the work force "job ready."

He also praised the Marcellus shale site in southwestern Pennsylvania, saying that it created a "synergy" that allowed farmers to retain their farms due to royalty payments they receive from the site's natural gas lines that go through their land.

Corbett advocated fiscal discipline, instituting spending cuts and zero-based budgeting; limited government, making it more effective and efficient; and free enterprise, phasing down the corporate net income tax and phasing out the inheritance tax.

Corbett also supported the need for regulatory reforms, particularly at the transportation and environmental protection departments.

He said the state needs to attract more businesses such as Google, the popular Internet search engine company that recently opened an office in western Pennsylvania.

"We can attract more businesses if we create a quality business life," he said.