Transcript: Live Blog of Pa. Budget Address

    12:13: Corbett says new Pennsylvania should respect the past.  Says “Thank you very much,” steps down.

    12:09: Corbett says there will be two new state police cadet classes this year, and another next year.  Also calls for additional funding for parole.

    12:08: Corbett says state shouldn’t run liquor business.  Announces new task force to look at what jobs government currently does that could be better done by the private sector.

    12:06: Corbett says budget retains state film tax credit, and increases research and development tax credit.

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    12:05: Corbett calls for elimination of Capital Stock and Franchise Tax.

    12:04: Corbett says he would sign tort reform legislation.

    12:02: Corbett says we shouldn’t tax natural gas drilling.  Is setting up new commission to grow the natural gas industry in the state.

    12:00: Corbett says developers will compete for government backing, but it won’t be a primary source of funding.

    11:57: Corbett says WAM’s (walking around money) are not in the budget.

    11:56: Corbett says his administration is going to ask for salary rollbacks from state employees and more contribution to healthcare.

    11:55: Corbett says unions must negotiate with an understanding of the economic reality.

    11:53: Corbett calls for school choice.

    11:52: Corbett says Pennsylvania should be able to furlough public school teachers when it doesn’t have money to pay them.  Then, Pennsylvania’s priorities should be: child, parent, teacher, in that order.

    11:50: Corbett says any property tax increase beyond inflation should be on the ballot.

    11:49: Corbett says we must make collective sacrifice.

    11:47: Corbett says education can’t be the only industry exempt from recession, calls on school workers to hold the line on pay.

    11:46: “I’m not asking you to read my lips.  I’m asking you to read my budget.”

    11:44: Corbett says temporary taxes often become permanent, tax increases choke growth in jobs, and Pennsylvania voters said no to tax increases.

    11:42: Corbett says budget will preserve the core functions of government.

    11:40: Corbett says we need to prune the tree of government so that it will bear jobs (paraphrase)

    11:39: Corbett says we must reinvent how we do business and grow jobs in Pennsylvania

    11:37: Corbett says path to the future is fraught with troubles.

    11:34: Moment of silence for former House Speaker Jack Seltzer.

    11:32: Corbett takes the podium.

    Welcome to our live blog of new Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s first budget address.  Stay with Newsworks for live updates through the speech and more stories throughout the afternoon, and listen to WHYY-FM later for reaction from the opposing party, as well as officials from the education, environmental, and cultural sectors on their budget allocations.

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