Gov. Corbett fares poorly in poll on job approval

    A new Franklin & Marshall College survey shows Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has the lowest approval ratings since he took office in January 2011.

    Just about a quarter of the registered voters surveyed say Corbett’s doing a good job — the lowest score of his tenure, or of any sitting governor in the history of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll.

    Respondents are even less supportive of the administration’s move to privatize operations of the Pennsylvania Lottery through a deal with a private British firm.

    Eighty-four percent say the move should require legislative approval.

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    The state Senate President Pro Tem, Joe Scarnati, has said he agrees.

    “Legislative input on this by many members would have been probably appreciated but the governor feels he has the authority to move forward,” said Scarnati, R-Jefferson.

    The poll was completed before the governor delivered his budget address, when he unveiled a plan to raise money for transportation.

    He has overwhelming support on that score; 82 percent of the poll’s respondents say they want more money for transportation infrastructure.

    But only half of those voters like the idea of higher gas prices and drivers fees to generate revenue.

    The poll, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points, surveyed 622 respondents.

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