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Powerful business PAC backing Corbett, Wagner in two primaries

One of the state’s most powerful business PACs announced Wednesday that it would be supporting Tom Corbett and Jack Wagner, respectively, in the Republican and Democratic primaries for governor.

PEG PAC, the political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council, said it’s decision came after “hours of face-to-face candidate interviews followed by analysis and discussion among PEG PAC board members.”

“There are eight intelligent and talented individuals vying to be the next chief executive of the Commonwealth,” Pennsylvania Business Council president David Patti said. “Each brings unique traits and qualifications to the election. However, based on the assessment of the 30 plus board members of PEG PAC, Tom Corbett and Jack Wagner are the best candidates in the two major parties.”

The PAC cited Wagner’s performance as state Auditor General and Corbett’s experience as a business executive.

See the PAC’s full release below:

PEG PAC ENDORSES CORBETT AND WAGNER IN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARIES

(Harrisburg) PEG PAC, the affiliated political action committee of the Pennsylvania Business Council (PBC), today announced its endorsement of Democrat Jack Wagner and Republican Tom Corbett for their respective party nominations for Governor of Pennsylvania.  The decision came after hours of face-to-face candidate interviews followed by analysis and discussion among PEG PAC board members.

“There are eight intelligent and talented individuals vying to be the next chief executive of the Commonwealth,” said Pennsylvania Business Council President David W. Patti.  “Each brings unique traits and qualifications to the election.  However, based on the assessment of the 30 plus board members of PEG PAC, Tom Corbett and Jack Wagner are the best candidates in the two major parties.”  Patti said the political action committee’s assessment was based both on the candidates’ positions on public policy issues and the PAC’s assessment of the candidates’ abilities to win nomination and election to the state’s highest office.

In the crowded Democrat bid for nomination, PEG PAC was impressed by Jack Wagner’s performance in his current office of Auditor General, his commitment to making Pennsylvania more competitive, and his experience as a member of the Pittsburgh City Council and Pennsylvania Senate.  “Jack Wagner has proven his integrity with tough, politically courageous audits of government programs and spending that sometimes fly in the face of powerful interest groups and his own political party,” said Patti.  “Moreover, his proven track record in the legislature and the Pittsburgh City Council give the business community some certainty that his policy positions are more than rhetoric.  He has a voting record on key business issues.”

Patti added that Wagner’s “narrative” is not unimportant to the members of PEG PAC and PBC.  “Jack came home from Vietnam as a severely wounded Marine Corps veteran who then put himself through college and joined a major American firm as a safety engineer.  He’s been in the private sector and he’s been a trusted public servant.” PEG PAC endorsed Wagner’s re-election to Auditor General in 2008.

Among the three Republicans, PEG PAC’s endorsement of Tom Corbett is based on his experience as a public servant and as a business executive with a major firm.  “Tom Corbett has been on the firing line in a highly regulated, publicly traded firm helping to build revenues in a tough, competitive marketplace.  He understands firsthand what it takes to bring jobs to Pennsylvania.  Tom Corbett is committed to creating a government that is fair, consistent and predictable – key elements for creating a climate in which business owners and senior managers will make investment decisions.  Moreover, as a former US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and one of Pennsylvania’s longest serving Attorneys General, Tom Corbett has proven that Pennsylvania can and will have ‘clean,’ ethical and transparent state government,” said Patti.

Patti said members of PBC have been working with Tom Corbett and his campaign for a long time and have developed a great deal of trust for his thinking on important issues.  “We’ve watched him in action as Attorney General and we know he understands business issues,” said Patti.  We also know that he’s the highest Republican vote getter of all time and has a strong fundraising and grassroots base.”  PEG PAC endorsed Corbett in his 2004 bid for Attorney General and in his 2008 re-election.

PBC Political and Grassroots Director Eric R. Kratz said PEG PAC, founded in 1972, is the state’s oldest pro-business political action committee and often serves as a bellwether for other business community support of political candidates.  “Our members take the responsibility of evaluating and endorsing candidates very seriously and pay careful attention to basing the organization’s recommendations on the best interests of the state’s entire business community – across industries and in every region of Pennsylvania,” said Kratz.

Kratz added that recent cases of political corruption in Pennsylvania and across the nation have made businesspersons cynical and disinterested in politics.  “It matters who becomes the next Governor of Pennsylvania. The candidates’ positions on key business issues matter.  It is essential that business owners and leaders take an early and active lead in the political process.  For all of these reasons, PEG PAC believed an early endorsement decision was a critical step in the 2010 election,” said Kratz.

PEG PAC Board Chair Gary Veshecco, senior vice president, division officer and deputy general counsel for law and government affairs at Erie Insurance, explained that, in advance of their interview, every candidate for governor was provided with a document summarizing public policy positions and recommendations in the areas of budget and spending; business taxes; energy; environmental regulation; health care; infrastructure; and legal climate.  These positions and recommendations were assembled and agreed to by more than 20 statewide business associations in a process that took nine months.  The policy agenda was published and distributed to all lawmakers, many interest groups and the media in June 2009.  Interviews with the gubernatorial candidates, reported Veshecco, were based on the issues complied in the business community document – available on the web at Growing Pennsylvania’s 21^st Century Economy.  “These interviews were a discussion of the candidates’ views on issues deemed critical for growing jobs and the economy by a consensus of business community representatives.”

According to Veshecco, the group interviewed Attorney General Tom Corbett, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty, Congressman Jim Gerlach, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, state Representative Sam Rohrer and Auditor General Jack Wagner in separate one-hour sessions.  Interviews were webcast to PEG PAC board members and recordings were made available to PAC board members for later viewing.  Veshecco reported that Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox declined to be interviewed or take part in the endorsement process and so was not considered on the final ballot. “Every attempt to be fair, open and transparent was made throughout this process,” said Veshecco.

PEG PAC supports candidates for office with financial contributions, campaign consulting, and grassroots action.  PEG PAC seeks to elect candidates for office who offer the best capacity to create and sustain a better Pennsylvania.  PEG PAC supports candidates who are best for the business community without regard to political party membership.

December 9, 2009 at 4:56 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Jack Wagner, Pennsylvania Business Council, Tom Corbett

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