Inquirer Editorial: Corbett sets right tone
Gov. Corbett set an admirably optimistic tone in his inauguration speech Tuesday, considering what Harrisburg has become and what lies ahead.
Gov. Corbett set an admirably optimistic tone in his inauguration speech Tuesday, considering what Harrisburg has become and what lies ahead.
Pennsylvania's state government is mired in corruption and waste. Nobody understands this better than Corbett, a Republican who prosecuted dozens of officials in the legislature while serving as state attorney general.
"We must act to renew the public's trust in government," Corbett said at his inaugural. "We need good government. The people now demand it, and they deserve it."
Corbett, like his role model Gov. Christie, now has a platform and the rare moral authority to implement such change. He is expected to unveil soon a package of government reform proposals, including eliminating arbitrary legislative grants known as "walking-around money," and reducing the cost of the legislature, one of the nation's largest.
But the new governor already is on record opposing one of the state's most needed government reforms - placing reasonable limits on campaign donations.
Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states to allow unlimited contributions, and the quality of state government has suffered accordingly.
Perhaps in time Corbett will see more clearly the link between corruption and election laws that overly influence policy.
What lies ahead?
The first GOP governor in eight years spoke about the right mix of budget priorities. He promised to be "responsive to fiscal realities," but he also pledged to lead a government that "shows compassion for those most in need."
That's the elusive combination that most Pennsylvanians are seeking. It won't be easy.
Corbett needs to cover a budget shortfall of about $4 billion - about 14 percent of the current general-fund allocation. But the weak economy argues against a general tax increase, and Corbett has staunchly pledged not to raise taxes.
That means cuts to services and programs. The challenge will be to protect residents who are most dependent on government help - among them, children in poverty, seniors, and people with disabilities.
As former Gov. Edward G. Rendell has urged, public education should be held harmless in the pending budget cuts. Students have made important gains in achievement in the past eight years, and the state's increased investments in K-12 and early-childhood education were big factors.
Corbett said his education plan will focus on "innovation, competition, and choice." The details will come later, but they should not include diverting tax dollars away from public schools to private schools that can "choose" which students to admit.
At the start of his speech, Corbett made a commitment to lead through "civil discourse."
The governor's comment was a reference to last week's tragedy in Arizona, and a classy reminder that Pennsylvania will make progress if its citizens and elected leaders work together.
