Grading Corbett's Economic Plan: FAIL - Commonwealth Foundation

Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development.

Much of what it outlines is simply political rhetoric – i.e. praising energy resources, transportation and water infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, and innovation – but when it outlines specific policy proposals, it’s just more of the same.

The Corbett plan includes:

Spending taxpayer money on building broadband internet, copying the federal “stimulus”
“Discovered in PA – Developed in PA” – a new program for universities and businesses to partner – presumably with taxpayer subsidy – on new technologies
More tax incentives and state spending on venture capital – because, naturally, if private investors don’t think something is a good risk, government will make better decisions using other people’s money
Loans and “seed money” for new businesses
Grants and incentives for investors
Getting more out of the Governor’s Action Team, one of Rendell’s favorite tools to pick favored companies for corporate welfare
More programs to create green jobs

Rather than a new direction, Corbett offers nothing more than the same failed mistakes of the past. In fact, his corporate welfare package sounds a lot like that of Democrat candidate Dan Onorato, not to mention the policies of Rendell and Bush-Obama.

This is not our path to prosperity. For some positive ideas, check out Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania.