Corbett: Protesters’ shout-down of Nutter “disappointing”

After performing the gubernatorial role of ribbon-cutter-in-chief at a science conference in Philadelphia Monday morning, Gov. Corbett told reporters he found it "disappointing" that Mayor Nutter's budget address last week was drowned out by municipal union members' loud protests in City Hall.

"It's disappointing when individuals will not allow a mayor or an official to give an address that he's supposed to give," Corbett said. "Individuals certainly have their opportunity to be heard, but it was certainly disappointing that he did not get to deliver his budget address."

In one of the most chaotic City Council meetings in recent memory, hundreds of chanting, whistle-blowing protesters drowned out the mayor last Thursday as he attempted to present his annual budget proposal to the council. Council President Darrell L. Clarke recessed the meeting during the speech, forcing Nutter to deliver it later to a roomful of his own staffers and reporters. Union members, upset over longstanding contract disputes with the city, carried signs depicting Nutter as Bozo the Clown while filling the chamber.

Corbett was in town Monday to help open Pittcon, a conference which bills itself as the world's largest annual exposition for laboratory science. Briefly taking questions from reporters, the governor said he was "very excited" about Monday's state House Liquor Control Committee meeting in Harrisburg on his proposal to privatize the sale of wine and liquor in the state.

"We're very excited about today, to get it out of committee today, and I think it's scheduled for a floor vote by Thursday," he said. "It's an exciting week."

A committee vote on the proposal was expected sometime Monday. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), privatization's most vocal supporter in the legislature, has vowed to bring the measure to a full floor vote by the end of the month.

While it may not lead to protesters drowning out speeches, the liquor bill faces stiff labor opposition of its own - from the union that represents retail clerks at some 600 state stores.