Endorsement 2010 - Corbett for governor

The attorney general has been putting corrupt politicians in jail. Harrisburg needs more of that.

Attorney General Tom Corbett had become a household name well before the campaign season heated up, thanks to his chief pastime - putting crooked politicians in jail. His so-called Bonusgate probe revealed the depth of corruption in the state Legislature, with some two dozen lawmakers and legislative staffers having been indicted and some imprisoned.

The resulting headlines provided the state's chief law enforcement officer with a decided advantage over his opponent as he entered the governor's race. The Republican not only had name recognition, but citizens' attention and appreciation.

The plight of Corbett's opponent, Democrat Dan Onorato, was captured in a TV commercial in which the relatively obscure - in this part of the state - Allegheny County executive holds up a sign and repeatedly tells viewers how to pronounce his name.

Not knowing what to expect, members of our editorial board were genuinely impressed when Onorato met with us to discuss his run for governor. We were struck by his enthusiasm, direct answers and depth of knowledge. And while Onorato, 49, might not be a familiar face here, he's well known in western Pennsylvania.

Among the Democrat's priorities is reducing the size and cost of state government. In fact, he says he's already done such housekeeping in Allegheny County, eliminating six row offices held by members of his own party and reducing unsustainable union benefits for that county's workers. His goal is to cut the size and cost of state government by 20 percent, and he's outlined a pretty detailed plan for overall state government reform.

On issues of special interest to taxpayers, Onorato said he favors eliminating onerous property taxes as a funding source for schools and replacing them with an income or sales tax, which might be a less stable source but is fairer, in our view. He also favors a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the state, a growing industry that is just in its infancy. Onorato said he would impose an average of what others states charge.

Corbett, 61, is flatly opposed to a severance tax. He explained to our editorial board that it's important to develop the industry now to generate jobs, that Pennsylvania is in competition with other states for drilling business and that a severance tax would prompt the drillers to go elsewhere, costing the state an economic bonanza.

He also points out that Pennsylvania already has the highest corporate income tax in the nation. So, the natural gas industry is not getting a free ride here. The challenge to the next governor, he said, is to help the industry develop. The payoff to Pennsylvania will be in the jobs and supporting industries it produces - all of which will yield revenue for the state.

While we lean toward Oronato on this issue, there is logic to Corbett's argument. We also buy the logic that Corbett already knows the players in Harrisburg, if not their secrets, and will more effectively deal with the Legislature. He also made a sound case about his ability to get concessions from lawmakers on reform issues, including the many wasteful perks that lawmakers use and abuse.

Oronato's argument than as an outsider he doesn't owe anybody anything in Harrisburg and so is better prepared to govern in citizens' interest has appeal. But the political reality is that knowing the way around and also those in charge has its advantages. And, in Corbett's case, he's already demonstrated to lawmakers' the consequences of mischief-making on his watch.

Bottom line: Both men bring strong credentials to the table and a vote for Onorato would not be without merit. But as the state's top law enforcement official, Corbett has zeroed in on an issue that more than any has plagued state government and wasted taxpayer dollars in recent years: corruption. Which is why we were relieved to hear that if he wins the election, Corbett will name a successor to continue that work. Harrisburg needs to be closely watched.

To that end, we believe the attorney general has the upper hand. We also believe that he has lawmakers' attention and respect; and, as a result, would be the more effective governor, particularly if Republicans have control of the Legislature, as expected. And so the Courier Times endorses Tom Corbett for governor.