Rendell Reflects On His Time In Office
HARRISBURG (CBS) - As the sun sets on his administration, Governor Rendell says signing the controversial 2005 pay raise bill is his biggest regret during eight years in office.
Governor Rendell met with capitol reporters to review his two terms in office and said he knew that the pay raise bill would cause trouble. "And I was too easily persuaded to do it, because I was told that unless I did it, we wouldn't get legislative cooperation for the remaining time in office as governor. And I shouldn't have done it."
The 2005 pay raise roiled state government, and saw voters toss out a state Supreme Court justice and numerous state lawmakers.
Rendell, meanwhile, does not believe he'll be remembered as the governor who brought casinos to Pennsylvania, saying that editorial boards are fixated on that, not people.
What does he think he will be remembered for?
"Probably education or just generally moving the progressive agenda forward. Perhaps among editorial board writers, they're obsessed with gaming. But I don't think the people are."
Ultimately, Rendell quipped that it doesn't matter how people remember him, "As long as they remember me as being thin."
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio
