Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Attorney General Tom Corbett bids for governor

Citing runaway spending by state leaders and the lack of a budget for more than two months, Attorney General Tom Corbett announced his candidacy for governor Monday night in the Senator John Heinz History Center in the Strip District.

To a crowd of about 250, Corbett, a Shaler Republican, proposed enacting a two-year state budget -- a move that would require a constitutional amendment -- and cutting the state's 17,000 vehicles by up to 20 percent.

"First, it means we don't have to go through this every year," Corbett, 60, said of his two-year budget plan. "I think it's a better way to manage our resources. Nonprofits will have a better idea of what their budget is going to look like."

A two-term attorney general, Corbett garnered more than 3 million votes in the 2008 election, a year when many Republicans were defeated.

Voters responded to his investigation into allegations that legislators awarded bonuses to staffers for campaign work on public time. To date, his office has charged 12 former Democratic lawmakers or their staffers with theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest. The probe began in 2007.

Critics have painted the investigation as political, a charge Corbett denied last night. He said he would continue to be involved in the investigation despite his gubernatorial bid.

"Absolutely, I can be involved in it. We'll make those decisions solely on if there's evidence," Corbett said. "It's political by nature because we're investigating public officials. We're continuing the investigation."

He declined to elaborate on possible Republicans that could be charged saying, "When the next round of charges are filed, you'll see that it's done right. I'm not saying anything more. That's grand jury stuff."

Corbett focused much of his speech on reducing taxes and bureaucracy for small business and cutting government spending.

"We have to do more with less. We have to live within our means," Corbett said.

Corbett will face Rep. Jim Gerlach of Chester County in the GOP primary. Gerlach and others have said Corbett should suspend his gubernatorial campaign until the public corruption investigation is complete, or resign as attorney general.

Corbett, a former U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh, served as interim attorney general from 1995-97, following former attorney general Ernie Preate's conviction for mail fraud. He returned to private law practice before his election in 2004 as attorney general.

Democrats are gearing up for a likely 2010 gubernatorial primary clash between two Pittsburghers -- Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and state Auditor General Jack Wagner. Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox is a candidate.