Wolf, Corbett Spar in Final Debate
Democratic party candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, left, and republican Gov. Tom Corbett before a debate at the WTAE-TV studio in Wilkinsburg, Pa. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Rodney Johnson,WTAE-TV, Pool)
The third and final gubernatorial debate between Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf was held Wednesday at WTAE-TV studios in Pittsburgh. Here’s what the media is saying about the final exchange:
The growing Pennsylvania scandal dubbed “porngate” made a cameo in Wednesday night’s first debate between Gov. Tom Corbett (R) and his Democratic challenger, businessman Tom Wolf.
The governor condemned the affair on Wednesday and maintained his ignorance of the matter.
“This is totally unacceptable behavior,” he said. “I don’t condone the behavior, and was not made aware of the behavior. Had I made aware of the behavior, I would have stopped it right then.”
Corbett added: “We’re still waiting on the attorney general to forward information on all the people who were involved. Because I think all the people need to be exposed, if you want to use that word.”
No. No you don’t want to use that word. Moving on….
The first question concerned the pay equity law and it’s ineffectiveness.
“I will do my absolute best to make sure bills like that pass. In my company, I worked hard to make that the case and I think we need to do that in the state,” Wolf said while mentioning he wouldn’t want his two daughters paid less.
“I think you’ve found something we agree on,” Corbett responded. It would be the last point of agreement of the night.
Corbett, noting the emphasis should be on helping people understand that minimum wage jobs are entry-level positions to help prepare you for something better, said he’d rather keep Pennsylvania at the federal floor of $7.25 per hour.
Wolf said he would support raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, with inflation-based adjustments after that.
Corbett renewed his attack on unanswered questions about Wolf’s far-reaching proposal to overhaul the state income tax to shift more of the cost onto the wealthiest taxpayers, accusing him of “trying to be all things to all people.”
“Mr. Wolf wants to spend more money … the question is how much?” Corbett said. “Whose taxes are going to go up? Whose taxes are going to go down?”
Wolf said his proposals may have to be tempered by financial problems that he suggested Corbett is responsible for but that have not come to light.
“I think I’ve been as specific as I possibly can be,” he said.
Corbett, a former prosecutor, opposed legalizing marijuana and a bill that would allow medical marijuana for a host of ailments. He said he supports a limited study at children’s hospitals on the medical benefits of marijuana.
The state needs to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana because prosecution ruins lives and costs the state too much, Wolf said. The Senate’s medical marijuana bill should become law, he said.
The Inquirer ticks off a few more issues:
Corbett, who has had a rough relationship with a legislature controlled by his own party, enthusiastically said that the size of the House and Senate should be reduced. Wolf disagreed, arguing that a larger body better served the interests of democracy.
Corbett said he would continue to sign appropriate death warrants. Wolf called for a moratorium on the death penalty.
Corbett said he would sign another voter ID bill if he had the chance, defending the concept as a guard against voter fraud. Wolf scoffed at that, insisting that the measure, which was thrown out by the courts before it could go into effect, was an ill-concealed attempt to disenfranchise Democratic voters.
The election is November 4th.
