Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34), nominated in mid-November by Senate Republicans to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore during the next legislative session, plans to put Pennsylvanians back to work by untying the stranglehold the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the state’s economy.
“We must do everything in our power as a Commonwealth to get the state back to work,” Corman recently told Pennsylvania Business Report. “The unprecedented number of workers idled by the pandemic shows how deeply this coronavirus impacted Pennsylvania families.”
Most recently, Corman in his current position on Nov. 20 helped oversee passage by the Senate of a supplemental spending bill to ensure that Pennsylvania continues to provide vital services to state residents without raising taxes. Passage of Senate Bill 1350 finalizes the state spending plan for the current fiscal year — which runs from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 — that was initiated with the enactment on May 29 of a five-month interim budget.
“Despite all of the challenges we faced this year, we have passed a balanced budget that stands up for taxpayers and will help us move our economy forward,” said Corman following the recent Senate vote. “Just as Pennsylvanians have worked to live within their budgets, we too are focused on finalizing a budget that would continue to serve our residents without asking them for more of their hard-earned dollars.”
The full Senate will vote on Sen. Corman’s nomination as Senate President Pro Tempore when it reconvenes in January. Corman has served as Majority Leader of the Senate since 2015 and will replace Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), who is retiring at the end of the year. His successor as Majority Leader will be Pennsylvania Sen. Kim Ward (R-39).
Sen. Corman recently answered several questions posed by Pennsylvania Business Report. The following exchange has been edited for clarity.
Question: As the new Senate President Pro Tempore, how would you describe your leadership style and what plans do you have to forge bipartisanship in the legislature?
Corman: As Majority Leader, I considered myself a fairly hands-off leader and it’s something that I plan to continue as President Pro Tempore. In the Senate, we rely heavily on our committee system. Our committee chairs use subject matter expertise to develop policy that will benefit Pennsylvania residents. The committee process includes hearings, reports and other fact-finding that allows them to develop thorough policy. The result is often bipartisan bills that ultimately have strong support from the House, Senate and administration.
Question: What do you cite as your top legislative priorities and why? For instance, regarding the state budget, what strategies exist to balance it without tax increases; support the energy and manufacturing sectors; and improve the overall state economy?
Corman: As President Pro Tempore, I am responsible for appointing the chairs and members of the 22 standing committees of the Senate. I also serve as an ex-officio member of each of those committees. While I consult with the majority leader on executing the Republican Caucus’ goals of holding down spending and taxes and making government operate more efficiently, the primary responsibility for guiding policy and budget negotiations lies with the Senate Majority Leader.
But as a Republican Caucus, we will continue to enact policies that create an environment for job growth while meeting the core responsibilities of government, maintain our historic investment in our schools, and explore new ways to streamline state government in order to use tax dollars most efficiently.
For example, as the governor looks to advance energy policy by joining neighboring states, we expect that the legislature will have the opportunity to weigh in to make certain that any change in energy policy moves the Commonwealth forward and ensures a balance between safeguarding the environment, preserving energy jobs, and protecting ratepayers.
Question: What are three main issues of concern now facing Pennsylvania residents and how will you and your colleagues work to tackle them?
Corman: Our primary focus must continue to be on rebuilding Pennsylvania in the wake of this deadly virus and the resulting statewide closure of our economy.
This dovetails into our second priority, which is the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget. Overcoming the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania’s economy meant this year’s budget was difficult to balance, but we did so without the need for tax or fee increases or debt.
We first adopted a partial spending plan in May in order to allow us time to see how the state’s finances were going to rebound through the pandemic. While we did see projections above original estimates, the pandemic has dragged on. Through continued fiscal responsibility and controlled spending, the hope is that we can balance the 2021-2022 budget without the need for increased revenues.
We also have to make changes to the state’s Unemployment Compensation system. The failures of this system were highlighted during the pandemic. We need to work with employers and their workers to develop a system that ensures that those who are entitled to unemployment payments receive them in a timely fashion while protecting against fraud in the system.
Finally, we have to take a closer look at education and our current one-size-fits-all structure. The pandemic has created an unprecedented disruption to education. Families are struggling. The coming year will be the time to look beyond COVID-19 and imagine what may be possible for education on the other side of it.
Education funding is at its highest level in Commonwealth history. Ben Franklin said: “An investment in education always pays the highest returns.” I couldn’t agree more. The question becomes: What is the best way for that money so it has the most impact on students? It is paramount that we address this.
Question: What else would you like to add about the upcoming legislative session or your new role?
Corman: The people of Pennsylvania have favored divided government — and they have with many elections in the past. In sending a divided government to Harrisburg, the voters have reinforced the ideals of our founding fathers of checks and balances. Not one party or ideal holds all of the power. The equal stage for all ensures that the good of all of the people is being done. Divided government forces compromise. Without compromise, you have gridlock. We in Harrisburg are not Washington, D.C. We know the value of working together to achieve the goals set by our constituents. We will continue to do just that as we move forward in this way.