Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Praises Easton Employer, Discusses Proposed Budget

EASTON, Pa., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today discussed his proposed 2012-13 budget during a visit to the Porsche Northeast Retail Support Center, citing the Northampton County employer as an example of the global economy impacting our state.

"This facility is a great example of how Pennsylvania is competing not only among states, but among nations," said Corbett. "It was an honor to meet your team during my trade mission, and it is great to be here today and meet Porsche's Pennsylvania workforce."

A division of the Porsche Cars North America, the Easton business is a training and distribution facility that houses the Porsche Academy Training Center, the Northeast Parts Distribution Center and area offices.  

The 30,000-square-foot location is also Porsche's first United States facility to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification. It employs 50 people and is the only Porsche facility in Pennsylvania.

"My goal as governor is fairly simple. I want our state to be sound fiscally. I want a job for everyone who seeks one. And I want every job-seeker to have the skills to prosper from a growing economy," Corbett said.

"Part of achieving those goals is to balance the state budget each year in a responsible and reasonable way, creating an environment where businesses like Porsche can grow and create jobs," Corbett added.

Corbett's $27.14 billion budget proposal maintains his commitment to balance the state budget. It closes a projected revenue shortfall of more than $700 million and reduces spending by more than $20 million.

Importantly, it meets the state's pension obligations and does not raise taxes for residents or businesses.

The governor's proposed budget focuses on five key areas: economic opportunities, education, human services, public safety and streamlining government.

"By keeping taxes low and holding down government spending, this leaves more money in the part of the economy that creates the best jobs - the free market," said Corbett.

Corbett's proposed budget accomplishes the following:

• Reduces spending from last year, reducing the state government workforce by an additional 2 percent, eliminates 33 wasteful appropriations, reduces 181 additional line items and reduces the state vehicle fleet by 1,200 vehicles.
• Creates job opportunity by holding the line on taxes, supporting Pennsylvania's small and large businesses and focusing state efforts on workforce development and job matching.
• Increases funding to basic education, continues the same level of funding from last year for universities dedicated to job placement, and creates new programs that give students incentives for training for occupations that are in high need of employees. 
• Levels funding for the Department of Corrections for the first time in a decade, increases the funding for PA Board of Probation and Parole to support transition from incarceration to community, provides funding for volunteer fire companies and provides funding for 115 state police troopers. 
• Transforms the public welfare system by providing incentives to those who are able to transition from the welfare line to the workforce, providing real relief to our poor and safeguarding taxpayer dollars through the elimination of waste, fraud and abuse. 
• Provides more than $387 million in funding for Penn State, Temple and the University of Pittsburgh, which translates to between a 1.6 to 2.1 percent decrease in the operational budgets; and a total of $330.2 million for the state-owned universities, a 3.8 percent reduction in the operating budget.

"I'm happy to be here to talk about jobs, the economy and how we can work together to build both," said Corbett.

For more information, visit www.governor.pa.gov.

Media contact:  Kelli Roberts, 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor