Gov. Tom Corbett knows how Ryan Howard feels these days.
The Phils' slugger is mired in an epic slump, including an 0-for-20 skid during the team's recent West Coast jaunt.
The governor just pulled off something of an 0-fer himself. The governor laid out three big projects he wanted the Legislature to deliver to him in the process of putting together the state's budget - almost always a process that goes down to the wire of the midnight July 1 deadline.
This year was no different.
The good news for Corbett? He signed off on a fiscal blueprint Sunday night, marking the third consecutive year he and the Legislature have avoided the kind of epic overtime sessions that were the norm under his predecessor, Democrat Ed Rendell. And he again did it without a major tax hike.
The bad news? Corbett went 0-for-3 when it comes to his big three legislative initiatives - liquor privatization, transit funding and pension reform.
It now looks like nothing will be done on those isssues until the fall at the earliest.
Corbett says he's not disappointed.
Well, I am. I happen to be the state's premier spokesperson for blowing up the Liquor Control Board and turning the sales of beer, wine and liquor in this state over to private enterprise.
Corbett is taking credit for at least getting it to a point no other governor has managed - getting a measure passed by the House and at least considered by the Senate. Unfortunately, that's where it died. All the dirty details, including our local reps' reactions, are here.
The transit and pensions reforms - anyone remember that 'tapeworm' in the budget that Corbett warned us about? - didn't even get that far.
I've said it before and I will say it again: Pennsylvania, Land of Giants.
Comments