And secondly, I would impose a significant state landfill tipping fee and use that tipping fee to fund the billion dollar bond issue that I want to create to produce the funds for all of the environmental challenges that we just went over.
And the beautiful open spaces, the forests of Pennsylvania, the recreational uses that come from having these green open spaces and forests, they contribute dramatically to the level of our tourism, dramatically.
There are a tremendous amount of environmental issues that are on the table.
For my part, I make this pledge to all of you: The politics of division, of pitting east against west, urban versus rural, region against region, and people against people will have no place in my Administration.
I'm interested in giving business an opportunity by improving the tax environment to invest and grow with Pennsylvania, to expand and put more money in capital investment and creating jobs.
One of the things that people don't realize is that that natural beauty, those recreational forests, they have an economic development impact for the state as well.
I think if we're going to have to landfill trash, and I think we basically have to, we might as well get the upside for it and dedicate that upside to improving the environment in so many different ways.
I have said consistently both in my papers and in my speeches - which you heard in the primary campaign - that I will continue to phase out the Capital Stock and Franchise tax.
I normally don't endorse in Democratic primaries.
I've always sort of believed that the future takes care of itself.
If there was a way to discourage trash constitutionally, I would sure as heck take a hard look at it. I don't think there is. So I don't think there's a choice here.
Growing Greener doesn't produce money for farmland preservation or open space preservation.
I am a free spirit. I tell the truth, and I like to mix it up.
If I lose, I lose. I'll do it on my terms.
George W. Bush always said and did what he believed and he let it rip.
And preserving our open spaces or having them there for recreational purposes is one of the things that contributes to the high level of quality of life that we offer in Pennsylvania, and that also translates into economic benefits.
Tourism is our second biggest industry in terms of the people it employs.
Look, natural gas, just like oil, is going to eventually go away. It's not renewable.
If I were president, I am not sure that I would offer Ed Rendell the job of chief of staff.
I think national issues play into gubernatorial races less than, obviously, in Senate and Congressional races. Much less. They tend to be more decided by personality, leadership qualities and by state or local issues. They still have some effect, no question about it, but not as much as Senate and Congressional races.
