Scarnati Reflects on Being Lt. Governor;
Looks to Future in Light of 'Power Shift'
By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director
Joe Scarnati says he’s enjoyed serving as lieutenant governor, but now he’s looking forward to spending more time in his senate district.
Scarnati has been serving as senator, Senate President as well as Lt. Governor since the death of Catherine Baker Knoll in November of 2008. The current lieutenant governor’s term ends January 18, 2011, at 11:45 a.m. when Jim Cawley is sworn in.
“It’s been a very difficult last several years,” Scarnati said of holding all three jobs, as well as dealing with difficult budget issues. “I hope to be back in somewhat of a routine to get around a lot more often (in the district) than I’ve been able to in the last two years.”
“It’s been a pleasure serving as lieutenant governor,” he said, then added with a smile, “maybe not as lieutenant governor to Ed Rendell -- but it’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve the Commonwealth in that capacity. But I like being the state senator from the 25th District.”
He does plan to run again in 2012. The district includes Cameron, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga and parts of Clearfield and Warren counties.
Scarnati added that although he and Rendell have their differences, they get along very well. He says he can disagree with Rendell at a meeting on Marcellus Shale tax, but sit down with him in a meeting about an economic development project and they completely agree.
As for Rendell’s replacement Tom Corbett, Scarnati said people are going to notice some changes.
“I think Pennsylvanians are going to see a transformed, new type of state government – one that’s going to operate like everybody’s household and everybody’s business – a huge departure from what the current governor has advocated over the past eight years.”
As lieutenant governor and attorney general, Scarnati and Corbett served together on the Board of Pardons for the last two years. Scarnati said they’ve developed a “great working relationship” and have had multiple conversations on policy and budget issues, and where the state is headed.
“What I really admire about (Corbett) is he’s open for suggestions. He’s open for looking for avenues. But he’s serious about his no-tax pledge. I believe he’s going to keep that commitment. I hope he does. I have no reason to believe he won’t,” Scarnati said.
“But there will be grinding and gnashing of the teeth by many people when they see the cuts come,” he added. “We have to fundamentally change state government.”
He said corrections, education and public welfare make up 85 percent of the state budget and “you just can’t go anywhere without looking at those.”
Corbett, from the Pittsburgh area, is not the only person from the western part of the state to be in a new position of power.
“There’s been a huge power shift from eastern Pennsylvania to western Pennsylvania over this past set of elections,” he said, pointing to new House Speaker Sam Smith from Jefferson County, new House Majority Leader Mike Turzai from the Pittsburgh area and new Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, also from the Pittsburgh area.
Scarnati says he believes Costa “will be a bit more aggressive” than his predecessor Senator Bob Mellow of Lackawanna County, who retired.
He said he thinks we'll be seeing Senate Democrats argue a bit more and challenge the Republicans more often. He said we'll probably also see more split votes and more debate than we're used to seeing.
“Debate is never a bad thing,” he said, then quipped, “Just because they’re Democrats doesn’t mean they don’t have good ideas once in a while.”
Republicans hold a 30 to 20 majority in the Senate.
Scarnati said even with the power shift, “We have to govern for the entire Commonwealth.”
“Overall we have to be fiscal conservatives in order to solve our problems. Just pouring money into problems is no longer a solution. And that’s what happened with (Rendell) -- just put more money to the problem, and Philadelphia got more money.”
Because Corbett is a new governor, he has until March to unveil his budget proposal.
WESB/WBRR News Director
Joe Scarnati says he’s enjoyed serving as lieutenant governor, but now he’s looking forward to spending more time in his senate district.
Scarnati has been serving as senator, Senate President as well as Lt. Governor since the death of Catherine Baker Knoll in November of 2008. The current lieutenant governor’s term ends January 18, 2011, at 11:45 a.m. when Jim Cawley is sworn in.
“It’s been a very difficult last several years,” Scarnati said of holding all three jobs, as well as dealing with difficult budget issues. “I hope to be back in somewhat of a routine to get around a lot more often (in the district) than I’ve been able to in the last two years.”
“It’s been a pleasure serving as lieutenant governor,” he said, then added with a smile, “maybe not as lieutenant governor to Ed Rendell -- but it’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve the Commonwealth in that capacity. But I like being the state senator from the 25th District.”
He does plan to run again in 2012. The district includes Cameron, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga and parts of Clearfield and Warren counties.
Scarnati added that although he and Rendell have their differences, they get along very well. He says he can disagree with Rendell at a meeting on Marcellus Shale tax, but sit down with him in a meeting about an economic development project and they completely agree.
As for Rendell’s replacement Tom Corbett, Scarnati said people are going to notice some changes.
“I think Pennsylvanians are going to see a transformed, new type of state government – one that’s going to operate like everybody’s household and everybody’s business – a huge departure from what the current governor has advocated over the past eight years.”
As lieutenant governor and attorney general, Scarnati and Corbett served together on the Board of Pardons for the last two years. Scarnati said they’ve developed a “great working relationship” and have had multiple conversations on policy and budget issues, and where the state is headed.
“What I really admire about (Corbett) is he’s open for suggestions. He’s open for looking for avenues. But he’s serious about his no-tax pledge. I believe he’s going to keep that commitment. I hope he does. I have no reason to believe he won’t,” Scarnati said.
“But there will be grinding and gnashing of the teeth by many people when they see the cuts come,” he added. “We have to fundamentally change state government.”
He said corrections, education and public welfare make up 85 percent of the state budget and “you just can’t go anywhere without looking at those.”
Corbett, from the Pittsburgh area, is not the only person from the western part of the state to be in a new position of power.
“There’s been a huge power shift from eastern Pennsylvania to western Pennsylvania over this past set of elections,” he said, pointing to new House Speaker Sam Smith from Jefferson County, new House Majority Leader Mike Turzai from the Pittsburgh area and new Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, also from the Pittsburgh area.
Scarnati says he believes Costa “will be a bit more aggressive” than his predecessor Senator Bob Mellow of Lackawanna County, who retired.
He said he thinks we'll be seeing Senate Democrats argue a bit more and challenge the Republicans more often. He said we'll probably also see more split votes and more debate than we're used to seeing.
“Debate is never a bad thing,” he said, then quipped, “Just because they’re Democrats doesn’t mean they don’t have good ideas once in a while.”
Republicans hold a 30 to 20 majority in the Senate.
Scarnati said even with the power shift, “We have to govern for the entire Commonwealth.”
“Overall we have to be fiscal conservatives in order to solve our problems. Just pouring money into problems is no longer a solution. And that’s what happened with (Rendell) -- just put more money to the problem, and Philadelphia got more money.”
Because Corbett is a new governor, he has until March to unveil his budget proposal.
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