Republican Gov. Tom Corbett Bailout Keeps Unions Afloat

In my Jan. 10 column, I warned that Pennsylvania’s Gov. Ed Rendell was trying to pull off a shipyard bailout before he vacated the governor’s mansion.

Despite incoming Gov. Tom Corbett's pledge of fiscal responsibility and restraint (and whispers that he would kill the bailout), Corbett, incredibly,  authorized the bailout, which subsidizes union jobs to boot.
On Feb. 17, Corbett authorized the $42 million shipyard bailout. Two ships will now be constructed — even though there are neither buyers now, nor any in the foreseeable future — and hundreds of union jobs will now be subsidized. So much for the pledge of responsible government and fiscal restraint, especially in light of the $5 billion budget deficit.

The wildly successful model that Gov. Chris Christie has given his colleagues — popularity will rise if you stick to your campaign promises — is, incomprehensibly, falling on deaf ears.

It is bad enough Corbett is being labeled "Governor MIA" for scarce appearances during his first five weeks in office. But when his first sign of life is choosing a bailout associated with politically-connected powerbrokers over the taxpayers who just elected him, the idea that Pennsylvania is on the right track becomes a hard sell.

As of now, the status quo still rules the day.