Free Republic

Corbett wants to hire a private lottery managerBy MARC LEVY | Associated Press – Mon, Apr 2, 2012 HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is making the state lottery the next frontier in his quest to privatize services, saying Monday that hiring a private manager for the nation's sixth-largest lottery would bolster its ability to meet the rising demand for services from the state's growing elderly population. The move, which was immediately opposed by Democrats and the state's largest employee union, also may herald an expansion of lottery gambling, such as the addition of online ticket sales, keno...

After three days of floor debate, the Pennsylvania House has passed a bill requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. Governor Tom Corbett signed the bill into law Wednesday night. Opponents call it a "poll tax," while supporters insist it's "common sense." Counties are being told about the upcoming changes, according to Ron Ruman, a spokesman for the Department of State. For the April 24 primary election, poll workers are supposed to request, but not require, that voters show photo identification. "And then we're asking that the poll worker hand that voter a small sheet of paper which...

From his position on the Penn State board of trustees, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett voted to fire coach Joe Paterno for his involvement in the cover-up of assistant coach Jerry Sandusky‘s multiple allegations of sexually abusing young men. Wallace noted at several points during the interview that Corbett was being less than open about all the details of the case being deliberated by the board of trustees, and Corbett admitted he was not at liberty to divulge everything. Even when Wallace tried to get Corbett to say if whether the scandal is over or whether more people will come forward,...

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"Abuse Inquiry Set Tricky Path for Governor For months, Gov. Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania had reason to suspect a sexual abuse scandal was going to explode at Penn State University. He also had no way to talk about it, or to prepare for it..."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett is one of 11 Republican governors who have signed a letter to President Barack Obama, asking him to withdraw proposed rules that would reduce toxic pollutant emissions from coal-burning power plants. In their letter Oct. 7, the governors claim long-delayed rules limiting emissions of mercury and other toxics -- originally mandated in the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 -- would cost $11 billion annually, risk millions of jobs, hurt electric power reliability and result in only marginal air quality improvements. "Any new rule must reflect information on how it will impact the economy and include...

The state's top election official came out today in support of a GOP-backed effort to require voters to show photo identification every time they cast a ballot in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Tom Corbett, "I have sent this message back: If something gets to my desk, it will be vetoed," Republicans who control the state House pulled the plug Tuesday on a planned debate over a local impact fee for natural gas drillers, saying they'll take up the issue this fall. The 180-degree turn came as lawmakers worked to put the final pieces of a $27.15 billion budget.

Currently lacking..... On the whole, do you support Governor Corbett's proposed budget cuts, including his cuts to education? Choice Votes Percentage of 379 Votes Yes 142 37% No 232 61% Unsure 5 1% Thank you for participating.

A changing of the guard occurred this week at the scandal-plagued Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), as Governor Corbett appointed himself the new chairman, and replaced five board commissioners. The law-and-order Corbett has pledged to clean up the authority through openness and transparency, vowing to oversee an entity free of the conflicts that plagued the prior board. But his appointments — all political insiders — have left many wondering if anything has really changed. As chairman, the Governor sets the DRPA agenda, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt that he will live up to his promises. That said,...

As predicted in Revolt! (Dick’s and Eileen’s new book) – States Lead the Way Toward Reform It is not only the Arab world that is in turmoil! Reform Governors like Scott Walker (Wisconsin), John Kasich (Ohio), Mitch Daniels (Indiana), Tom Corbett (Pennsylvania), Butch Otter (Idaho), and Rick Scott (Florida) are leading a movement for fundamental change in America. In Revolt!, Morris and McGann’s new book, they describe how newly elected Republican Governors – impelled by their budget crises and empowered with GOP Legislatures – will accomplish sweeping changes in our politics. Read how: * Republican Governors will destroy the political...

Freindly Fire Note: On February 17, Governor Tom Corbett authorized the $42 million shipyard bailout. Two ships will now be constructed --- even though there are no buyers, nor any in the foreseeable future --- and hundreds of union jobs will now be subsidized. So much for the pledge of responsible government and fiscal restraint, especially in light of the $5 billion budget deficit. The wildly successful model that Gov. Christie has given his colleagues --- popularity will rise if you stick to your campaign promises --- is, incomprehensibly, falling on deaf ears. It is bad enough Corbett is being...

Switch to Pro-Abortion Governor Allowed Abortionist Horror The grand jury calls him a butcher of women. If the charges are proven correct, he is a butcher of baby girls and boys too, a poster boy for what Roe v Wade has wrought. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/01/21/switch-to-pro-abortion-governor-allowed-abortionist-horror/

Throughout history, there have always been makers and takers. Makers create things: jobs, products and wealth. Takers produce nothing. Instead, they leech off the makers. And the biggest taker of all is government. Oppressive, “taking” governments hold center stage in most foreign countries, where taxpayer rights and the rule of law are cocktail party jokes. But increasingly, the takers are also making their mark in America, squeezing the economic lifeblood out of business and zapping citizens’ creativity and hope. Usually, the take comes in increments, with public officials saying it’s our duty to accept such small sacrifices. But once the...

The celebration surrounding Tom Corbett's inauguration as Pennsylvania's 46th governor will not include a parade around the Capitol. No concerts by rock legends. Just one inaugural ball. Organizers said they are limiting the number of events, citing hard economic times. A performing arts program, a Roman Catholic Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral and an inaugural ball at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex will be part of the Jan. 18 event. Inaugural celebrations usually combine casual parties with formal events. The bills are paid by private donors, including corporations and organized labor groups that often have a direct stake in state...

You would think that with Pennsylvania’s Republican roots, which have run especially deep over the last several decades, freshman Democratic senator Bob Casey would be vulnerable in 2012. You would be wrong, and the reason is simple civics. Incumbents don’t lose unless they’re challenged by viable, first-tier candidates, as the Senate elections in Nevada and Alaska proved. And, as of now, there are none to challenge Casey. Whether that changes in the next year is anyone’s guess, but the mere fact that the GOP finds itself in this position speaks volumes about how it builds its “bench.” Translation: it doesn’t....

After a more than a year of nonstop campaigning, fundraising and crisscrossing state travel, Dan Onorato can console himself that he was just one of many Democrats swept under in a national Republican wave year. It is what happened at home that must concern him. The Allegheny County executive lost his home county in the governor's race to Republican Tom Corbett, an indignity in a county where his party has 2.3 times as many votes. That has to be on his mind -- and those of possible GOP or Democratic rivals -- as he considers running for an unprecedented third...

Republican Tom Corbett handily won the governorship last night beating Democrat Dan Onorato. The unofficial tally with 53 districts -- 40 in Philadelphia and 13 in Delaware County -- to go was 2,136,683 votes to 1,783,581. With Republicans retaining control of the state Senate and winning the state House, Pennsylvania can make the elephant its official mascot for at least the next two years. The senate race was much closer than expected and not called until after midnight when Democrat Joe Sestak conceded to Republican Pat Toomey. The unofficial tally as of midnight was 1,993,704 votes for Toomey to 1,916,284...

Republican Tom Corbett has defeated Democrat Dan Onorato in the race for Pennsylvania governor.

A TALE OF TWO STATES Ed Rendell and Jon Corzine drove Pennsylvania and New Jersey into the ground. Chris Christie—and now Tom Corbett—are poised to bring both back from the dead Day and night, black and white, right and wrong. All describe what New Jersey is versus what it was. The difference? Simple. It’s Chris Christie versus Jon Corzine. One presided over a legacy of abject failure, driving the state into near bankruptcy, while the other has taken the bull by the horns — read: upending Business As Usual — and is winning the day. Since Jon Corzine got trounced...

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A major police union and other law enforcement associations are backing Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett's bid for governor.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- For the first time in the general-election campaign, the Pennsylvania gubernatorial race between Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Dan Onorato is too close to call, according to a poll released Wednesday. The statewide survey by Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster shows Corbett, the state attorney general, backed by 36 percent and Onorato, the elected executive of Allegheny County, with 32 percent among voters who said they are likely to cast ballots in the Nov. 2 election. About one-third remained undecided. In August, the same pollster gave Corbett an 11-point lead over Onorato and had about one-third...

Republican Tom Corbett said Democrat Dan Onorato is a "career politician" who will only "tell you half the story." Onorato said Corbett signed a "hokey" pledge not to raise taxes.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll released, today , has Republican Pat Toomey up 47-37 percent among likely voters over Democrat Joe Sestak in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Among registered voters, a category historically more favorable to the Democrats, Toomey is up 40-37 percent. Meanwhile, the latest Rasmussen Poll has Toomey up 45-39 percent among likely voters with Toomey ahead 48-42 percent if leaners are factored in. In the governor's race, Reuter/Ipsos has Republican Tom Corbett head of Democrat Don Onorato 49 percent to 34 percent. In other election news, Sestak has launched his first attack ads in which he accuses Toomey to...

Perennial swing state Pennsylvania is swinging far to the right this election cycle according to a brand new poll. GOP candidates for Governor and US Senate have healthy leads over their Democratic opponents and an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians believe their state (currently under Democratic rule) is on the wrong track.

Perennial swing state Pennsylvania is making a slow and steady turn to the right this election season. Fueled by dismal approval ratings for their current Democratic governor and senator and a strong backlash against President Barack Obama's handling of the immigration issue, voters in the Keystone State are sounding off against the Obama party and the Obama agenda and they're putting their money where their mouths are.

Gubernatorial Candidate Said Unemployed Want To Collect Checks.

In a reapportionment case, Erfer v. Com. (794 A.2d 325 (2002)), the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania specifically held that the Commonwealth retained jurisdiction over all elections within the state, not just those for state office. Further, when discussing equal protection under the Pennsylvania Constitution, the court held, “The issue is whether the reapportionment plan has denied voters of a fair chance to influence the political process. This inquiry focuses not on the effects of a single election, but on the election process itself.” I find that instructive: What better argument can be made for denying a voter his or her...

Republican State Attorney General Tom Corbett is near the critical 50% mark in his race against Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato for governor of Pennsylvania. A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Pennsylvania, taken Wednesday night, finds Corbett earning 49% support to Onorato’s 36%. Four percent (4%) prefer another candidate in the race, and 10% remain undecided. Both men won their parties’ respective primaries on Tuesday. Last month, Corbett posted a 45% to 36% lead over Onorato in a hypothetical match-up. In surveys stretching back to December, Corbett, who has long been viewed as the likely...

Harrisburg, Pa. - The state attorney general's office has issued a subpoena threatening officials of the social networking service Twitter with arrest unless they reveal the names of two bloggers who have been critical of Attorney General Tom Corbett and his public corruption investigation. The subpoena orders Twitter's custodian of records to provide "any and all subscriber information" pertaining to the accounts "bfbarbie" and "CasablancaPA," including name, address, contact information, creation date, and Internet protocol address. The accounts have criticized Corbett's use of grand juries, suggesting he used the investigations for political gain and to go after political opponents. The...

In the latest sign that the purple state of Pennsylvania is turning red, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Republican candidates leading in both the senatorial and gubernatorial races. Next month's special election to fill the late Congressman John Murtha's (D) seat is a toss up and President Obama's approval rate in the Keystone state is plummeting.

The idiocy of some people never ceases to amaze. For the latest example, just look how the political hacks reacted to the recent week of Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett. First, Corbett’s office was successful in prosecuting former state representative Mike Veon and two others in the Bonusgate scandal, bringing the total number of felony convictions in that corruption investigation to 10. Veon and his cronies were convicted on numerous charges related to using taxpayer money for political campaigns. Taxpayer money is, in fact, the people’s hard-earned cash that is sent to Harrisburg for the purposes of good government. Using...

March 23, 2010, 12:01PM On the day that President Barack Obama signed health care reform legislation, Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican candidate for governor, was slammed by Democrats for his decision to join a lawsuit that calls the bill unconstitutional. Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer, whose Bonusgate prosecution against state legislators and staffers resulted in mixed verdicts Monday night, said the suit "seeks to protect the citizens of Pennsylvania whose rights will be violated when the health care reform legislation ... is signed into law by President Obama.' "It is wrong for candidate Corbett to use the office of...

As the health care bill makes its way to President Obama's desk, the battle has moved on to the Senate, state legislatures, the court system and the campaign trail. Attorney General Tom Corbett plans to join 10 other attorneys general in suing to overturn the legislation, two Republican state lawmakers have introduced bills that would make it illegal to force people to buy health insurance, and the Senate is girding for a weeklong battle to pass a series of changes to the health care bill Obama is expected to sign today. "I don't imagine the Republicans are just going to...

Thrilled with twin victories this month, Republican governors are looking to lead a party-wide resurgence in 2010 and shape the GOP for years to come. Republicans boast of a strong crop of gubernatorial candidates who could be future party leaders, $25 million in the bank a year before the elections and a difficult environment for Democrats, particularly in financially ailing swing-voting states like Ohio and Iowa. "Next year's going to be a good year for Republican governors," predicted Haley Barbour, Mississippi's governor and chairman of the Republican Governors Association. "In states where there are Republican governors, people can see if...

Attorney General Tom Corbett (R) is the most well known of the candidates looking to replace the term-limited Gov. Ed Rendell (D), and therefore leads his potential opponents by wide margins, a new Quinnipiac survey finds (Sept. 21-28, 1100 RV, MoE +/- 3%).

We get it even if the judge doesn’t. The people comprehend the severe nature of the public corruption that put former super State Sen. Vince Fumo in federal court in Philadelphia yesterday for sentencing. Although a jury unanimously found Fumo guilty of 137 felony counts, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter sentenced the ruthless politician to only 55 months in prison. Probation officials decided in a pre-sentence report that Fumo could have served 27 years behind bars. The judge reduced that possibility to 12 years then sentenced him to four years and seven months. Hardened cons often say they could...

Republican Party lawmaker wants Corbett to probe ACORNBy Brad Bumsted STATE CAPITOL REPORTER Thursday, June 11, 2009 HARRISBURG — A Delaware County lawmaker is asking his colleagues to co-sponsor a House resolution urging the state attorney general to investigate ACORN, an organization whose members are charged with voter registration fraud in Allegheny County and elsewhere. "I believe the activities of this organization have raised significant questions, and my resolution asks that ACORN be investigated by the attorney general to determine whether they are in compliance with the law," Rep. Stephen Barrar, a Republican, wrote in a June 3 memo made...

Tim Kreiger, a first time candidate, eeked out a 864 vote victory in Westmoreland County, a seat which has been safely Democrat since it was created in 1969.In the closing days of the campaign, Kreiger was denounced by his opponent as a tool of the Bush Administration and a mouthpiece for the right wing extremist group Club for Growth.

<p>Steve Corbett, a radio talk show host in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, received a copy of an internal email sent by Grant Olin (sp?) who heads the Wilkes-Barre headquarters of the Obama campaign. The email went to 627 Obama campaign volunteers in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton region, saying that Obama Headquarters reported an internal poll which shows that Obama is only 2 points up in Pennsylvania.</p>

Maybe our Joe is right. If Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden doesn’t let the pressing matters of the day bother him, so why should I? Tell a tall tale. Have a drink. Just be what I am – a scrappy kid from Scranton who’s got the best stories in the bar. The next time I stop at Joyce’s Tavern in the Irish Minooka section of Scranton, where my grandfather landed after he emigrated from County Galway, I’ll tell the lads some dandy stories. I’ll always remember the day, I’ll say, just like Joe does when he tells a whopper, when...

TUCSON — A jury was selected Tuesday to hear Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett’s murder trial in U.S. District Court. Opening arguments and testimony are expected to start today. Corbett is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide for shooting a Mexican named Francisco Dominguez-Rivera who illegally entered the United States near Naco last year in January. Activists representing anti-illegal immigration groups, as well as humanitarian and civil rights groups, expressed their views in displays outside the courthouse throughout the day Tuesday. Meanwhile, inside a courtroom, Judge David Bury, prosecutors and defense attorneys spent most of the day selecting...

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. - A U.S. Border Patrol agent charged in state court with second-degree murder for the shooting death of an illegal immigrant has succeeded in having his case shifted to federal court, records show. Attorneys for agent Nicholas Corbett filed notice in U.S. District Court in Tucson asking that the federal courts take jurisdiction over the case, and on Tuesday filed a notice in Cochise County Superior Court removing the case to federal court. Documents filed in federal court by Corbett's lawyers claim his actions were necessary and proper to perform his duties as a federal law enforcement...

SIERRA VISTA — U.S. Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett’s murder case is headed to federal court in Tucson. The move comes several days after he entered a not guilty plea in Cochise County Superior Court. On Aug. 23, Corbett’s attorney Sean C. Chapman of Tucson filed a notice of removal in the U.S. District Court of Arizona, the Herald/Review learned late Wednesday. Five days later, Chapman, 41, filed a similar notice with the Cochise County Superior Court where the case was last pending, according to Denise I. Lundin, the clerk of the Superior Court. “No further proceedings are anticipated in...

A hearing on this matter was held on August 6, 2007 at a JP courthouse in Bisbee, Arizona. Several things have been reinforced: (1) The Mexican Consulate is the engine behind this ridiculous prosecution. They take great pride in destroying the careers and lives of Border Patrol agents. They have an agenda (open borders and zero immigration enforcement), and they bully our weak American government counterparts into doing their bidding. It’s sickening. (2) The alleged victim in this case was a gang-banger. He was wearing gloves when he threatened Agent Corbett with a rock. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Department did...

Mexico is withholding key witnesses that could exonerate Border Patrol agent Nicholas Corbett of second-degree murder charges and paying for others to testify against him, asserts a union leader. Brandon Judd, vice president of U.S. Border Patrol Union Local 2544, told WND the Mexican consulate is taking care of all the expenses of three Mexican witnesses to the shooting so they can remain in the U.S. to testify against Corbett. Corbett has been indicted on second-degree murder charges in Cochise County Superior Court in Bisbee, Ariz., in connection with the shooting Jan. 12 of Francisco Javier Dominguez Rivera, a 22-year...

BISBEE — Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Corbett can be tried in Cochise County Superior Court on a charge of second-degree murder, a justice of the peace ruled Monday. However, after listening to testimony at a preliminary hearing, Justice of the Peace David Morales decided that the evidence did not support a more serious charge of first-degree murder, which supposes premeditation. On April 23, Cochise County Attorney Ed Rheinheimer charged Corbett with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, negligent homicide and manslaughter in connection with the Jan. 12 shooting death of Francisco Javier Dominguez-Rivera, a 22-year-old Mexican national who had crossed the border...

January shooting death of entrant nets 4 charges - A preliminary hearing to determine whether a Border Patrol agent should be charged with murder for fatally shooting a Mexican man just north of the border is set for Monday in Bisbee. Nicholas Corbett, 39, was charged April 23 with four counts of homicide in connection with the Jan. 12 shooting death of Francisco Javier Domínguez Rivera, 22, of Puebla, Mexico, about 150 yards north of the border, between Bisbee and Douglas. The shooting occurred as Corbett was trying to detain Domínguez Rivera and his brothers and sister-in-law who had entered...

STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM CORBETT SAYS AARON BELIEVES "IT'S THE BEST COURSE TO TAKE." CLARION - Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron announced Monday he is changing to a Republican party affiliation. Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett was a featured speaker at the press conference held at Structural Modulars Inc. in Strattanville. The two officials say they share a common focus on various issues facing the commonwealth. "He has a history of bipartisan support," said Corbett, a Republican. "He believes it's the best course to take." Aaron, a native of Limestone Township, added he found it difficult to gather support...