Will be sworn in as Lt. Gov. on Tuesday

Incoming Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley made an “ironclad commitment” Monday to about 200 people in Harrisburg that the Corbett-Cawley administration will have “no tax increases” and “no fee increases,” underlining the campaign mantra of himself and governor-elect Tom Corbett.

Mr. Corbett and Mr. Cawley will be sworn in to their respective offices Tuesday and begin wrestling with an estimated $5 billion shortfall in the state’s upcoming General Fund budget due June 30.

Referring to Harrisburg – during the eight years of Democrat rule under outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell – as “occupied territory,” Mr. Cawley said, “tomorrow at noon, the occupation ends.”

The largely friendly crowd was pleased by Mr. Cawley’s stated priorities of an “on time, no tax hike budget,” “streamlined government” and “school choice.”

Mr. Cawley said he is well aware of the cynicism of some who don’t believe the new administration will be able to accomplish its stated goals.

“You need not take our word for it,” said Mr. Cawley. “What we are going to do is find out where that 40 percent growth (during the Rendell administration) in spending went to.”

“We are fully aware of the promises we made during the (2010 gubernatorial) campaign. Tomorrow, we begin to make good on those promises,” he said.

If people are curious what type of operating budget Mr. Corbett will propose in early March, Mr. Cawley suggested they take notice of the actions of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Upon taking office last year, Mr. Christie substantially reduced the state’s work force and dramatically cut education spending. Last week he proposed business tax cuts for this year.

Mr. Cawley’s remarks opened a policy summit gathering hosted by the Commonwealth Foundation. Guest panelists discussed ways to enact school choice, make state government spending more transparent to taxpayers, cut state spending, the need for tort reform and require state government to live within the means currently provided by taxpayers.