Corbett discusses his plans as governor
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Pennsylvania Governor-elect Tom Corbett says one of his first acts in office will be to lift a moratorium on Marcellus Shale gas-drilling permits on state lands -- a move that would reverse a drilling halt imposed by outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tuesday night, shortly before he was declared the winner, Mr. Corbett sketched out plans for deep cuts in state spending, changes in everything from contract bidding to widening the budget-writing process by reaching past House and Senate leadership to the rank-and-file.
He said the voters' message of Tuesday was fiscal discipline and Mr. Corbett said he would lay out one primary fiscal need: public safety.
"After you've got that funded properly then you start looking at everything else and asking 'what do we have left?' " he said.
As to the moratorium on gas drilling on state lands, Mr. Corbett declared Gov. Rendell's moratorium order blatantly wrong.
"These people bought these leases with an expectation of being able to drill as long as they adequately presented papers to get their permits and they ought to be able to get their permits," he said.
The Corbett campaign ran on a mantra of fiscal discipline accompanied by a pledge to enact no new taxes. It came in an election that closed shortly before billions in federal stimulus dollars were set to stop flowing to states, a cut that is likely to exacerbate an already struggling post-recession state budget.
He and Republican leaders hope to privatize the state's liquor store system -- a longstanding GOP legislative goal that has failed to gain traction over the past 30 years. Still, he says that effort is on the table.
State Rep. Mike Turzai, currently the Republican Whip and in line to move up the ladder if the GOP takes control of the state House, said he is convinced the move would bring a quick $2 billion in licensing revenue with liquor tax revenues of $375 million.
"It's going to happen," Mr. Turzai pledged Tuesday night at the Corbett victory party.
Mr. Corbett, ensconced in the Presidential Suite at the Omni William Penn Hotel's 16th floor, said he was expecting significant savings from a range of cuts and changes in operations.
"You're going to see us make sure that government is open. We've had a lot of no bid contracts in the last couple years," he said. "A lot of sole-source contracting was going on. In some cases it may be appropriate for sole-source, but most cases you certainly have to question the need for a sole-source. We're going to lead by example."
First Published November 3, 2010 1:28 am
