A good summary of the first year of PA.'s completely-under-Republican-control government

[JPZenger]

Welcome to PA., where we have a Republican governor, both houses of the legislature with large Republican majorities, and a Republican controlled Supreme Court. How's dat workin out for ya?

www.hyprocrisywatchpa.com

"Worst of 2011.

Governor Corbett’s agenda had a “banner” first year. Pennsylvania, not so much. Despite two thirds of Pennsylvania favoring a drilling tax, Pennsylvania remains the only state without one. That takes an incredible amount (or lack) of gubernatorial leadership. He cut billions in needed services from the state budget, successfully crippling public education while championing grossly overpaying failing online charter schools. He signed a bill that would force women’s healthcare clinics to close unless they made ridiculously expensive (and expensively ridiculous) changes, dealing with parking spaces, awnings, and elevator and hallway width. He even got Pennsylvania the title of most gerrymandered state in the nation. That’s no small feat.

Sure Pennsylvania has the worst roads and bridges in the nation, and the Guv refuses to do anything about it. And he killed the adultBasic program leaving many less fortunate Pennsylvanians without healthcare. And he has no plan for fixing the economy or bringing back jobs to the state other than more cuts.

And he’s more concerned with keeping his donors from paying taxes and spending hundreds of millions of dollars on corporate loopholes for the 1% than he is about helping the state. Not to mention that he’s totally abandoned his pledges of transparency and real reform. But hey, he’s a busy man. And when Corbett checks his ledger, 2011 is coming up as one big feather in his cap."

[HopeHoops]

1. Good summary. I can't even look at the asshole.

If I ever see him on the streets of Harrisburg, I'm going to give him a full moon - trucknuts and all.

[blue neen]

2. Worst Governor Ever.

Governor Gashole.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Oh, he has a "plan" for economic growth....

all that Marcellus drilling is supposed to bring us a zillion jobs. Too bad those jobs are not being filled by PA residents. But it seems that this is his only plan---drilling will provide the jobs.

And let's not forget the cuts in college grant programs and the increases in tuition. This guy loves education!

Next on the list---vouchers. Yep, let's take even more of our local tax money out of our schools! And when all the property taxes have to be raised and raised, tell me all about how great this is.

[femmocrat]

4. Found this article on Corbett's first year (by Terry Madonna).

How is Tom Corbett doing?
By G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young, FOR THE DAILY COURIER
Saturday, December 31, 2011

Corbett's rookie year has been solid if not stellar. Surprisingly, however, this tells us little about how the next three years will go or about his re-election prospects.
One year ago, Gov. Tom Corbett entered office in the midst of a stubborn recession, riding a tough no-new-taxes pledge and pushing an ambitious reform agenda. As Corbett prepares to begin his second year in office, the obvious question is, how's he doing?

A fair appraisal is that he is doing OK -- maybe not great, but definitely OK. So far he has avoided new taxes, notwithstanding the worst recession in modern times. Moreover, he successfully shepherded his first budget through the Legislature on time, despite the biggest deficit in state history.

True, his draconian and widely unpopular budget cuts to education hurt his approval rating for a while. But that has now stabilized around 50 percent, much improved from earlier ratings in the 30 percent range and above most of his fellow governors around the nation.

Read more: How is Tom Corbett doing? - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/guestcolumn/s_774148.html#ixzz1iLysIg6f

[femmocrat]

5. Now he is going after public employees' sick days!

Taxpayers shell out $49M for retiring employees' sick time
By Amanda Dolasinski, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, January 2, 2012

Cash-strapped Pennsylvania paid more than $49 million to retiring employees who walked away from their jobs with unused sick time.

Of those, 4,000 retirees, seven — two state police majors, a deputy commissioner, three captains and a lieutenant — cashed out with at least $100,000, records indicate. The average payout was $14,600.

"If employees aren't using their sick time, then they've earned that time," said Leah Wright, spokeswoman for Service Employees International Union Local 668 in Pittsburgh. The union represents about 20,000 home care workers, janitors, engineers and others across the state.
"It's fair that they get paid for it at the end," Wright said. "It's part of their compensation package."

But critics say otherwise.

Read more: Taxpayers shell out $49M for retiring employees' sick time - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_774615.html#ixzz1iLzQxlJG