Calls for government reform have allies on both sides of the aisle

Members of the General Assembly weighed in on Gov. Tom Corbett’s first day in office shortly after he delivered his inaugural address Tuesday at the state Capitol.

In a brief address, Mr. Corbett avoided setting specific policy goals for his administration, choosing instead to discuss general governmental reform and push for more fiscal responsibility. While cautioning against expectations of easy or quick governmental reforms, Mr. Corbett also promised to provide “decisive action that is accurate and precise.”

State Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester) said there was little in Mr. Corbett’s speech which fit that standard.

“I was looking for the specifics of policy and I’m still looking,” said Mr. Dinniman. “Other than the notion that we have to have fiscal discipline and that we have to be responsible for ourselves, there weren’t too many specifics.”

Though with temperatures hovering just above freezing and the threat of rain or snow hanging in the air, Mr. Dinniman said he was thankful the new governor’s remarks were brief, a significant change from eight years of talkative Gov. Ed Rendell.

State Rep. Glenn Grell (R-Cumberland) said Mr. Corbett did not need many words to hit upon the two most important issues: fiscal restraint and government reform.

“Until we get the people convinced once again that we’re going to do what’s right for Pennsylvania, all the other initiatives don’t matter,” said Mr. Grell.

He pointed to the overall youth of the state House – more than half the members have been in Harrisburg for six years or fewer – as the best chance for enacting meaningful reforms.

“I think the vast majority of my colleagues will be supportive [of cutting legislative expenses],” said Mr. Grell. “But we may need to push our leaders a bit on some of those issues.”

Mr. Dinniman agreed on the need for legislative reform to be a top priority for the governor and General Assembly in the new term. He plans to re-introduce legislation to end the use of per diems for lawmakers and require receipts to be reimbursed for expenses.

Lawmakers were allowed to collect per diems Tuesday for attending the inauguration.

Mr. Dinniman said he believes there is enough support for such reforms to pass, though previous attempts have failed.

While reforming the legislature was the talk of the campaign trail, perhaps the most pressing issue facing the Corbett Administration in office is the expected $5 billion deficit in June.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.), who attended Tuesday’s inauguration, advised Mr. Corbett not to expect much help from the federal government when it comes to closing the deficit. Roughly half of the expected deficit is the result of the federal stimulus funding coming to an end.

“We’re in a new chapter,” said Mr. Casey. “Not just with the change of governors but also with the Recovery Act money that won’t be available. It’s going to create some real challenges.”

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said the people of Pennsylvania expect the government to examine spending and reform issues in depth during the coming year, but said there will be opposition to some of Mr. Corbett’s other proposals, such as education reform.

Tuesday, Mr. Corbett called for increasing “innovation, competition and choice” in education. Last week, Sens. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) and Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) unveiled legislation creating “opportunity grants” allowing families to leave the state’s worst-performing school districts.

Mr. Costa said Senate Democrats are in favor of education reform in a more “broad manner.” He said the increase in charter and cyber schools during the past decade have expanded educational options to make competition and innovation a reality in Pennsylvania.

“I think the issue about school choice is something where we have to be very cautious about how we approach that,” said Mr. Costa.

State Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery) said he did not expect to hear specific policy goals outlined in the inaugural address, as Mr. Corbett needs time to meet with his cabinet members and legislative leaders.

Even so, he said the message was a clear one.

“We have to start thinking differently about what government provides for us,” said Mr. Mensch.