The Wrath of Corb
Atty. Gen. Kane's decision to nix Gov. Corbett's lottery deal will set off a political war likely to include `the wrath of Corb.'
The Wrath of Corb
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Okay, it could be seen as The Wrath of Kane (Kahn) but it'll certainly draw The Wrath of Corb.
Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Kane's decision announced Thursday to nix Republican Gov. Corbett's lottery deal sets off a war.
This is, after all, the state's new top lawyer telling the state's old top lawyer that he either doesn't know or understand state law or is trying to weasel his way around it to push his penchant for privatization.
Public reaction was relatively restrained. The Guv said he was "deeply disappointed" in a decision he disagrees with. GOP legislative leaders used mush words, mostly because they're pee-oed the Guv can't stand to work with them.
Behind the scenes, reaction included assertions Kane is showing herself to be a typical Democrat protecting unions, including AFSCME, which contributed to her 2012 campaign and which represents employees who could lose their jobs if the lottery deal goes through.
It's hard for Corbett to publicly assert this given his take from the natural gas industry which he's coddled since taking office. But anti-union folks and true GOP believers will, you know, believe Kane's playing the same old game.
Kane did herself no good when she declined to answer questions following her announcement, suggesting she's uncomfortable with the facts or unwilling to address the politics.
Corbett did himself no good when he said 25% of the state's population will be over 65 by 2017, suggesting he's uninformed about his own state's demographics. It's 15% now. Unless he thinks fracking ages people quickly, it won't be 25% in four years.
Next, no doubt, comes more legal fees from taxpayers for outside counsel to appeal Kane's decision in state courts, which, of course, delays yet another state issue for who knows how long and eats up more effort, time and resources that could be spent on critical issues such as the pension problem, education or transportation funding.
And Kane, who has started her reign with a double-barreled bang (going after guns by closing the Florida loophole; going after Corbett by slapping down his deal), is drawing praise from the left and wrath from the right.
"Blatantly political," said GOP state party director Mike Barley who accused Kane of putting "union bosses and Harrisburg Democrats" ahead of opportunities to bring in more funding for senior-citizen programs.
Meanwhile, Democrats across the state lauded the decision, and one wag quipped, "finally, an attorney general with balls."
But make no mistake, this is but the beginning, it means war and it'll draw, overtly or sub rosa, the certain `Wrath of Corb.'
There was never a "loophole". It was a reciprocity agreement that still exists with other states. It should be re-enacted when the Legislators stop playing with themselves and do some work...- forget privatization, why aren't the Republicans and Democrats rallying around the fact that american jobs are being sent to a British Company?— bobmc
- A Democrat Newbe from Scranton, home of political Chaos, attempting to follow in the footsteps of Sen. Casey up the political ladder. What's amazing is the Democratic party's embracing one of their own who happens to be a member of the infamous "One Percent" that the party continually condems!She's a white women who's rich and happens to be a Democrat. Did anyone Really believe she would endorse the privatization of the lottery when so many Union workers would have to work outside the "Protection" of state government? Face it folks, unions dictate what Democrat politicians can and cannot do. Look no further than your own Philadelphia. They been doing that since Milton Shapp gave his stamp of approval to unionizing state workers,including teachers, after which the state teachers union sold him out in his ambition to run for President. They promised to support him if he got the legislature to approve unions. Lawmakers did but the Teachers union turned their back on his candidicy. The rest is history.— elkie
- I think she's doing a good job so far. Anytime she's making Republicans angry, she must be cutting into somebody's political cash.— 2thru
- Next she will investigate his rtole in the Penn State cover up! Go get him girl!— mark carr
- PRIVATIZATION MUST BE PUBLICIZED— Cuddles
- Whewwwweeee. 'The Wrath of 'Corb''. Something scary from someone who awoke from a 3 year administrative coma? Pullleasseee. He should take that 'wrath' and go back to sleep. Not getting re-elected.
The Daily Corbett.
#votethisguyout #worsegovernorinUS— 24sDad - Mr. Corpse-Bait, why don't you tax yuor fracking cronies if you want more revenue? Also, Sandusky asked that you accept the charges next time he calls you collect, and he says, "Thanks!".— ricciaje
- Sorry Guv'ner ...... sening money home from the colonies..... 237 late but better late than never— Bruddah
- And industry doesn't dictate for the other side?!? How did the gas industry get away with a fee structure that is nowhere near what oil has to pay in royalties? How about the limits Act 13 imposed on doctors who treat people exposed to Marcellus Shale liquids? All industry give aways.— meteo30
- We were supposed to transition from a manufacturing economy to a service economy when we shipped all our good jobs to China and Mexico. Now we're going to ship our service jobs to the UK and India.
It used to be a nice country.— ML in WC - More great reporting from what passes for journalists these days. Just reprint lies unchallenged. Where's the evidence that the AG made a politically motivated judgement? She wasn't even directly involved in the evaluation of the contract.— MikeP
- Good for her. She's taking her job seriously.— carl and sons
- she is a phoney - a one trick pony; first of all the jobs will not leave PA, just the owner; secondly, she is jumping on the union bandwagon; she ios not experienced enough to run that office— LOUIS CHUCK
- Ohooo, what are we gonna do? I'm shaking. I'm shaking.
— Cardinal Fang
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
