Corbett Asks For Public's Help To Pass Agenda
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Governor Corbett is appealing to the public to put pressure on lawmakers to enact key items of his agenda before they recess for summer at the end of June.
The governor appeared before the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce last week and asked members for their help in spurring action on transportation funding, liquor privatization and pension reform.
"And I would urge you to talk to your legislators," Corbett said. "Call them. The one thing I haven't gotten used to is the timing of things in Harrisburg. You know… there's the budget address. And then there's hearings. And hearings… and hearings."
But the simple reality is that in Harrisburg, most major initiatives don't get done until a few days or even a few hours before a recess. And often, it takes a governor – like Corbett's predecessor, Ed Rendell – insisting on enactment of those initiatives as a condition for signing a budget.
So far in his tenure, Corbett hasn't given any such ultimatum, but also said last week he wouldn't rule it out this year.
