Corbett Defends Free $1,400 Rhode Island Vacation
Gov. Tom Corbett appointed businessman to advisory board after being treated to free vacation
HARRISBURG – They say Rhode Island is beautiful in the summer.
And Gov. Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett got to see it firsthand and for free. According to an updated statement of financial interest filed with the State Ethics Commission, the governor and his wife spent five days in July 2011 on vacation in Rhode Island with the hotel and airfare paid for by John Moran, president of Moran Industries, a Pennsylvania based company that specializes in trucking, rail and warehousing.
A few months after the Rhode Island trip, Corbett appointed Moran to a 24-member advisory panel he created to look into privatizing state services.
The Sunbury Daily Item reports that around the same time, Moran’s wife Ann was appointed to an unpaid position at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Together, the Morans donated more than $75,000 to Corbett’s 2010 run for governor, according to campaign finance records.
This summer, John Moran Jr. was also named co-chair of the Team Pennsylvania Foundation. The organization was established in 1997 as a nonprofit devoted to economic development. It works to build partnerships between business and government.
At a news conference on Thursday, Corbett was asked about the trips he took on Moran’s tab. He said he followed the law by disclosing the trip and the expenses.
He said he did not believe the trip gave Moran a level of access not available to other residents of the state.
“A lot of people have access to me. They’re friends. Mr. Moran and his wife, Ann, are friends,” Corbett said. “I’m pretty accessible.”
But Corbett isn’t the first governor Moran has had a cozy relationship with. According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Moran got some favorable tax breaks from Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration in 2010 as part of an $11 million development of an industrial park in Williamsport.
Contact Boehm at Eric@PAIndepenent.com and follow @PAIndependent on Twitter.
Steve Csulik
9:03 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
How long have they been friend's ?
Gerry Kranz
10:22 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
you want to talk unethical? How about the Obama Christmas Vacation, on the taxpayer dime? Three weeks and more than a million taxpayer dollars? It would be one thing to pay for an official business trip, but this is too much. I am sure he his no reimbursing the government for his family expenses.
The governor's little trip pales in comparison to this travesty.
Kathy Chapman
9:17 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Obama runs back and forth to Hi, on Air Force 1 like I go to seven/11 down the street!!!
Phillyboy
10:41 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Exactly ...Teflon Obama....Worst US President in our lifetime and maybe in our history. You tell me....how does a Community Organizer with a clipboard go to Illinois State Senate ( 18 mos.) to President of the US ????? SOMETHING STINKS IN CHICAGO !!!!!!
Obama has no concept of how business works . Nor does he care .
He was the perfect poster child for the Dems and their liberal agenda.
I will give credit to the Democrats for developing an agenda that appeals to the masses who love their entitlements . Thats why Obama won a second term.
rick troxell
11:21 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
This is about Corbett and his ongoing screwing of taxpayers in the state of Pennsylvania. The only vacation he deserves by the taxpayers is prison for his lack of performance as attorney general in the Penn state story.
Phillyboy
11:58 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
Troxell... You or I are not privy to all the details of the Jerry Sandusky investigation. .The cover up happened in the University and those azz---- are being dealt with now. Sandusky is in prison and thats what matters.
Like him or not...Your hanging Corbett for not arresting and prosecuting Sandusky at that time when the AG office didn't have a rock solid case.
Also,..how is Corbettt screwing the taxpayers ??? His administration balanced the budget in a timely since he has been in office. Corbett was left gaping budget holes as a result of reckless spending created by Ed Rendell .
rick troxell
12:32 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Guess wecould argue all day about numerous decisions. That's the problem with the Penn state issue. Lack of disclosure to the public. His budget is balanced but at what cost and to whom. Still don't think he is good for the future. My opinion that's all
Amend Wun
3:15 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Seriously, how do you jump from an article regarding possible ethics violation by Gov. Corbett to deriding President Obama as a communist plant by the democratic party, and making blanket accusations regarding the costs of his vacations without credible proof to back it up?
An interested bystander
3:46 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Regarding Corbett, even if it's legal it still stinks.
Amend, Obama's Hawaii trip actually cost $4 million. Here's a column on it from the very liberal Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/20/obama-hawaii-vacation-cos_n_1158825.html
Kathy Chapman
9:20 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
Does that $4 million figures include Obos "run" back to DC to "settle" the "cliff", which he didn't, and is he going back to Hi to "finish" his vacation???
Amend Wun
4:12 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012
@An Interested Bystander- thanks for the link. It's unfortunate that the article wasn't more informative. The only thing I could infer from it regarding the costs was that he had much of the White House staff in tow. Regardless, it seems like a desperate tactic by those looking for any way to undermine the President. Not that I think he's perfect mind you, but a simple google search seemed to show that President Bush spent more time on vacation and at a greater cost to the taxpayer. It's kinda like the debt clock at the GOP convention, a waste of time. There are bigger things to focus on. Regarding Corbett, it does seem a bit "smelly" even if it was legal, but then so does the Morans' relationship with Gov. Rendell. Nepotism has its place I suppose, but influence is something else.
Amend Wun
8:24 am on Tuesday, January 1, 2013
@Kathy- the article is about possible erhics violations by Gov. Corbett. Geez. You'd think adults could stay focused on the topic at hand instead of constantly derailing the conversation in an effort to meet their own narrow and transparent partisan leanings.
Starship Trooper
8:56 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Amend...the point is this..in a bad economy Obama has the balls to spend 1 M $$ tax payer dollars to go to Hawaii and that gets broomed under the carpet by the liberal media and then you see this article on Corbett taking $1400 for a free vacation. Not that Corbett is right here but people like me are tired of Obama getting away with murder and the media's slobbering love affair with the great divider. Your President has us going down the path of France and we are supposed to be worried about a $1400 free Corbett vacation!!!PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Parkland Parent
1:49 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Is this a REPUBLICAN? Hysterical......Everyone seems to forget who took the most vacation days in the history of the White House. Yep, KING GEORGE!