Watch CBS News

Failure Of Agenda Another Setback For Corbett

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The failure of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett's agenda in the final weeks of the legislature's spring session is another setback for a governor heading toward an election year with abysmal poll numbers.

On Sunday night, as legislative leaders declared there would be no action before recess on Corbett's three major initiatives – liquor privatization, transportation funding and pension reform, the governor gave things a positive spin.

"We've made progress," Corbett said. "These aren't easy things to do."

The governor expressed optimism for a productive fall session of the legislature. But Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Terry Madonna says fall sessions are rarely as productive as the spring session with the pressing deadline of a long summer recess.

"It's easy to push big decisions, controversial decisions – off," Madonna said.

Madonna says fairly or unfairly, voters in these kind of situations tend question the leadership qualities of the chief executive. He says if Corbett comes up empty in the fall, it will certainly be a major issue in his re-election campaign.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.