Corbett ad focuses on keeping college grads in Pa.
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett's new television ad, called "Coming Home," isn't about a soldier returning from war. The campaign spot focuses on another reason Pennsylvanians leave home.
"It's really quite tragic. Today one in three graduates from Pennsylvania colleges moves to another state to find the job they want," begins the ad.
It ends on an emotional note: "Instead of tearful goodbyes and missed holidays, it's time to start saying welcome back home to Pennsylvania."
Deborah Diamond is the president of CampusPhilly, a nonprofit group that tries to attract students to schools in Philadelphia — and then get them to stay after graduation.
She said she is glad the issue is part of the gubernatorial candidates' discussion.
"It's hard for me to see how it would be a partisan issue," siad Diamond. "Everybody's interested in Pennsylvania's economy doing better. I think to keep college graduates here is only going to make our region stronger and I think that transcends political party."
She's appears to be right. Corbett's opponent, Democrat Dan Onorato, says he too thinks it's important to get graduates to stay in the state.
The state universities in PA are hurting badly for revenue due to the pension crisis and a 30% reduction in funding over the past 10 or so years. So, what are they doing? They are favoring out of state students over in state students because the out of state students pay more in tuition. Good luck trying to keep grads in PA when they aren't even from here.