Corbett touts plan to create jobs during stop in Perry

Pennsylvania not only needs to create new jobs, it must hold on to the ones it has, the Republican candidate for governor said after touring a Perry Township brick plant Monday.

Attorney General Tom Corbett told about 25 employees of Glen-Gery Corp. how he planned to do that if he is elected governor.

He said he would cut state spending, reduce the size of state government, cut the business taxes raised during Gov. Ed Rendell's administration and reduce business regulations without sacrificing employee safety.

"Has anyone seen a tax increase that creates more jobs?" he asked. "I haven't. But I have seen tax cuts that create more jobs.

"We're going to reduce the business taxes that prevent us from growing or having new business come to Pennsylvania."

Afterward, Jenelle K. Wunder of Leesport, a technical services department secretary, said she hopes the next governor will do something to bring businesses back to the state because firms such as Glen-Gery depend on other businesses.

Glen-Gery President Stephen G. Matsick said that because the construction industry is down, so is the need for bricks.

The tour requested by Corbett's campaign staff was a good opportunity to show Corbett how a strong economic climate could turn that around, Matsick said.

"We're going to make 45 percent less than what we were doing four years ago," Matsick said. "People aren't going to build homes if they don't have jobs. To have jobs, you have to have economic growth.

"Attorney General Corbett has the right idea with his economic plan. Corbett said tax cuts would enable Glen-Gery to stay competitive. Businesses that buy the bricks could grow because their costs would go down, too.

"If you start cutting their costs and their taxes, they can pass that along to their customers and still have a profit margin. It's all really connected."

Corbett has been touring businesses across the state for the last year.

Monday was his second visit to Berks County in less than two weeks. He toured the Associated Wholesalers Inc. warehouse in Robesonia on July 21.

Corbett is facing Democrat Dan Onorato, Allegheny County executive, in the Nov. 2 election.

The governor is paid $174,914 annually and serves a four-year term.Pennsylvania not only needs to create new jobs, it must hold on to the ones it has, the Republican candidate for governor said after touring a Perry Township brick plant Monday.