ABC27 WHTM Capitol protestors say Corbett protects big business

Capitol protestors say Corbett protects big business

"Occupy" protestors who say they represent 99 percent of Americans occupied the hallways of the state Capitol Complex for Gov. Tom Corbett's budget address.

Once Corbett began, they listened and there was not much applause. When the Governor finished, it didn't take long for the critique to begin.

Corbett said taxpayers should not pay for excessive government spending. Jerome Wilson of Pittsburgh agrees, but he and others said Corbett should go after big corporations.

"We need to look at the upper-end and get some of the corporations to pay their share of the taxes and that will help build a stronger economy," Wilson said.

Matt Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation said taxing job-creating businesses is not the way to go.

"We need to allow the private sector to prosper if we are going to experience a comeback here in Pennsylvania," he said.

Brouillette said that if things had remained status quo, families would have paid more than $1,300 dollars in additional taxes in 2013. He said the Corbett cuts benefit the 99 percent in the long term.

"Everyone across Pennsylvania, families and businesses, are having to make cuts," he said. "It's time for government to do the same. There is fat to be trimmed."