Onorato Wins Final Debate

Onorato Lays Out Experience and Vision, Corbett Reaffirms Support for Corporate Special Interests Over Pennsylvania Families

Harrisburg, PA – Dan Onorato won tonight’s debate by laying out his plans to get Pennsylvania’s economy back on track as Tom Corbett again reaffirmed his support for his corporate special interest donors over Pennsylvania families.

“Once again Dan Onorato showed that he is the only candidate with the experience and vision to lead Pennsylvania in these difficult economic times,” said Mark Nicastre a spokesman with the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “While Tom Corbett was in Harrisburg fighting to increase spending in his office, Dan Onorato was streamlining government and working with small businesses to create jobs in Allegheny County. Now Tom Corbett is proposing a $3 billion tax on middle class Pennsylvanians, while fighting tooth and nail to prevent his top donors from being held accountable for the environmental damage they cause. The choice couldn’t be more clear: Dan Onorato will fight for middle class Pennsylvanians and create jobs while Tom Corbett will only fight for his corporate special interest donors.”

Corbett: Leave My Donors Alone

During the debate, Tom Corbett defended his corporate special interest donors and refused to hold them accountable. Corbett has refused to support a competitive severance tax, like the ones supported by Republican and Democratic governors in surrounding states. Reports have shown that Corbett is the top recipient of campaign contributions from the natural gas industry, receiving over $700,000 in the past decade, over $335,000 of which he received in the past 100 days. [Associated Press, 10/14/10]

Corbett: No Answers for his $3 Billion Tax

Tonight, Tom Corbett failed to explain why he proposed hitting hardworking Pennsylvanians with a $3 billion tax during the first debate. His reluctance is not surprising because Corbett has supported massive tax increases. As a Shaler Township Commissioner, Tom Corbett raised property taxes by 20 percent in his only budget vote and earlier this year Corbett flip flopped on tax increases. In January, Corbett said tax increases were “a last resort” but he refused to rule them out. Only a month later, he signed the no tax increase pledge that he touts in his new ad. [Capitolwire, 1/9/2010 and Associated Press, 8/24/10]

Corbett: No Answers for His Increased Spending Requests

Once again Corbett could not to explain why he asked for spending increases each year in office. This year, Tom Corbett requested a 13 percent spending increase for his office. [Intelligencer Journal, 9/9/2010] Tom Corbett has requested a spending increase every year since he was elected. “Corbett’s proposed spending in increases for his state offices have ranged from 3.9 percent during the 2008-09 fiscal year to a high of 13 percent for the 2010-11 fiscal year.” [PA2010, 9/15/10]

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