Gov. Tom Corbett last week released a statement criticizing President Barack Obama’s proposed plan to combat global warming, contending it will lead to a massive tax hike on the Pennsylvania coal industry.
“Our state has come too far over the past four years to go back to these overreaching tax-and-spend policies, and Pennsylvanians have my promise that I will fight these regulations every step of the way,” he said.
Under Obama’s proposal, the amount of allowed emissions from power producers is capped and they are required to reduce their emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels. If a company releases more than the allowed emissions, it could be forced to purchase costly emissions credits, install expensive upgrades, or install a host of other carbon-reducing measures.
Corbett challenged Democratic opponent Tom Wolf to denounce the plan.
“Tom Wolf has a very clear choice here — he can continue to side with President Obama’s war on coal that will put Pennsylvanians out of work, or he can side with 62,000 Pennsylvanians employed as a result of our coal industry,” he said.
According to a report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Obama’s proposed regulations will increase electricity costs in the United States by $17 billion each year through 2030 and lead to the loss of 224,200 jobs per year.
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Meanwhile, Boilermakers Local 154 endorsed Corbett.
“Since taking office, Gov. Tom Corbett has kept his promise to fight for Pennsylvania jobs, making our commonwealth stronger and more prosperous for our members, their families and all Pennsylvanians,” said business manager Raymond Ventrone.
Corbett also has the backing of the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania.
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In other campaign news, Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsed Corbett, citing the 150,000-plus private sector jobs created since Corbett took office in 2011.
“Gov. Corbett has restored fiscal responsibility to government, he’s eliminated billion-dollar deficits and created a business-friendly environment that has allowed the private sector to create 150,000 jobs,” Perry said.
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Joe DeFelice, executive director of the Philadelphia Republican Party, is criticizing Tom Wolf, the Democratic candidate for governor, for visiting a closed-door meeting of City Council to seek campaign support.
Council President Darrell Clarke maintained the meeting was not a violation of the Sunshine Law, which prohibits a quorum of members of a public body from conducting business in private.
DeFelice pointed to a Philadelphia Daily News article that said, “So it wasn’t a Sunshine Act violation. It was politicking in a public building.”
DeFelice also noted the $500 fine that the Ethics Board imposed on city elections commissioner Stephanie Singer.
The commissioner asked an employee to organize election results that she posted to a personal campaign website and another site that has a link to donate to her campaign.
“Just another week with the Democrats in City Hall,” DeFelice said. ••
