A new, new Corbett in a state of "innovation"

INNOVATION IS good, whether in business, government or politics.

The late Steve Jobs reportedly said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

So with some hope, but more curiosity, I attended Pennsylvania's first ever "Innovation of the Year" awards with Gov. Corbett last week in Harrisburg.

This was to honor state workers with ideas to save tax dollars.

It was a lively event. Some, not the guv, wore funny hats or costumes. One foursome dressed as Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, although I'm not sure why.

I did wonder if the guv would recall a Daily News front-page image of himself as the Tin Man. If so, he didn't mention it.

Maybe that's part of the new, new Corbett.

You know there's a new, new Corbett, right?

After yet another staff shake-up and a rejuvenation weekend at Bedford Springs, known for its curative mineral baths, he's renewed, rested and ready.

So I wanted not only to see how innovative our state has become, but I also wanted to see the new, new Corbett.

I can report mixed findings.

For starters, the "Innovation of the Year" award isn't really for the best innovation of the year; it's more the best innovation since Corbett took office.

And the first-place "Innovation of the Year" award, to the state Department of General Services, wasn't actually for innovation. It was for implementing Corbett's campaign pledge to cut the number of state cars.

This is not to take anything away from such reduction. The agency says it cut 2,000 state vehicles, about 20 percent of the fleet, which means only 8,000 now roam our roadways.

(I'd note that cutting, whether health insurance for the poor, education funding or state cars - justified or not - isn't innovation, it's cutting.)

Other heralded "innovations" included getting rid of unused state office space and transferring paperwork to digital content - in other words, commonsense management and an entrance into the computer age.

Sated with "innovation," I turned attention to the new, new Corbett.

Looks great. Relaxed, friendly, chatty, even pleasant in the presence of journalists. Guess that spa stuff works.

If you didn't know better, you'd think labels such as America's "most vulnerable" and one of "the worst governors" and "one-term Tom" belong to somebody else.

And he was in re-election mode. His staff put a blue drop-screen behind him for media questions. It's covered with little state seals with his name under each.

Cute.

This isn't to suggest he's at the top of his game.

Telling me how getting ideas from employees is so important, he relays a story. Says he met a state employee in a Giant supermarket who had a great idea; he only wishes he could find that employee, because he didn't write anything down.

Sigh.

Then during formal remarks, he notes that 80 innovation projects saved taxpayers $175 million, but adds that the money is being used for other state programs.

When he leaves the stage, I ask how tax dollars are saved if the money goes to other state programs. He says, "Because we don't have to raise taxes."

He moves on before I can point out that adding $175 million to a $28 billion budget (.63 percent) probably wouldn't require a tax hike.

But, hey, savings are savings. And maybe he's projecting out over a century or so.

For now, little seems changed. Asked about liquor reform, pension reform and transportation spending, he says "all three are very important, [and] it's incumbent upon the Legislature, in a bipartisan way, to reach an agreement."

Oh, brother.

Clearly he likes the word "incumbent." But staying one could require a lot more "innovation."

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