Letter to the Editor: Governor Ignoring Roads, Bridges

To the Editor:

I wonder if the writer of the current edition of the Governor's E-Mail Newsletter (below) recognized the irony in stating, "Governor Corbett Making Serious Strides to Rebuild Pennsylvania" when precisely the opposite is the case.

It is important to remind Pennsylvanians that our road and bridge network is one of the nation's most deficient and dangerous, and that Tom Corbett has refused to provide adequate funding for infrastructure, ignoring the sensible, well-reasoned recommendations of the committee he appointed, which include modest fee increases to be imposed on motorists in order to keep pace with inflation.

No one likes to pay more for anything, but I will gladly part with some of my disposable income in order to ensure that neither me nor my wife is in danger of driving on one of Pennsylvania's rotted bridges when it collapses.

Government's primary task is to provide for the safety of its people in a multitude of ways. Despite Governor Corbett's reluctance to support any plan which takes more from his constituents in an admittedly challenging economy, it is foolish to fund public safety only when the economy is booming. I would have hoped that a leader whom one presumes is savvy and intelligent, and not penny-wise and pound-foolish, would recognize the folly and danger in ignoring the health of our roads and bridges, how critical it is to address the crisis of their deterioration without further delay.

Governor Corbett's transportation commission did what he asked. Shall we wait for people to die before action is taken?  I suppose so.

Oren Spiegler
Upper St. Clair

Jobs Update: Saving Jobs and Bringing Employers to Pennsylvania

Since taking office last year, Governor Tom Corbett has made serious strides in helping to rebuild Pennsylvania by saving jobs and bringing employers to the commonwealth. Through his efforts, Pennsylvania is showing signs of recovery.

For the second year in a row, Governor Corbett passed an on-time budget that does not raise taxes on Pennsylvanians. A balanced state budget that holds the line on spending and taxes creates certainty and stability for employers and lays a solid foundation for job creation.

The Corbett Administration helped secure Shell Oil Company's land-option agreement to evaluate Beaver County as a site for a potential petrochemical complex, which could lead to up to 20,000 jobs in southwestern Pennsylvania.

After months of hard work led by Governor Corbett, Delta Air Lines' subsidiary, Monroe Energy LLC, acquired the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer, Pennsylvania this May, saving hundreds of jobs in Delaware County.

Governor Corbett was the driving support behind two more deals that saved existing jobs and created new jobs by helping to secure the future of Sunoco's Philadelphia refinery and Marcus Hook refinery.

Through bi-partisan efforts, Governor Corbett was able to commit $15 million of state funds and secure an additional $60 million for continued work on the dredging of the lower Delaware River to ensure Pennsylvania's place in the global economy and keep our markets open to international trade.

These successes are a result of the Governor's commitment to make the commonwealth competitive in the global economy and a national model for job creation.

Source: Governor's Newsletter, July 18, 2012