Governor Introduces Jobs-focused Budget
By: Bill Palmer
Updated: February 5, 2013
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett gave his budget address today.
He unveiled his proposed spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
Governor Corbett's budget proposal highlights many keypoints, but some are raising their eyebrows over his refusal to support Medicaid expansion and question liquor privatizaion.
Corbett was met with bi-partisan applause at his budget address this afternoon.
Corbett's proposal is said to boost state government spending by nearly 3 percent, all while increasing support for public schooling and cutting business taxes.
In addition, Corbett is counting on legislature to create long term changes to public pensions.
Last year, governor corbett proposed major cuts to higher education. This year, there are no more of those reductions.
The proposed budget would set spending at more than 28.4 billion dollars while boosting spending in the current fiscal year by 100 million dolalrs. Corbett expects revenue to rise by a small amount, 1.5 percent compared with this year's four percent. He would pour 500 million dollars into reserves.
The biggest increases in the approximately 800 million dollars in new spending would come under higher education, health care for the poor, prisons and social services.
Corbett has warned that he might have to cut aid for programs in public schools unless his plan to change public pensions is adopted.
For more information about Governor Corbett's plan for economic growth and job creation, visit www.pa.gov.


