Rescind the Tom and Susan Corbett Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Issue

Tom Corbett has slashed the budget for education and the arts since taking office while simultaneously making  corporate tax cuts of $800 million .

Pittsburgh Opera's press release on the award, however, states "Governor Corbett will be honored for his early work as a teacher as well as his long-standing protection of the public interest as Pennsylvania Attorney General. Additionally, as Governor, he has recognized the economic, educational, and social value of the arts. Mrs. Corbett has been an accomplished producer and presenter of arts programs through the years, and, as First Lady, has championed greater participation in the arts in her role as Chair of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts."

Pittsburgh Opera officials may not be aware that Corbett's first two budgets were extremely damaging to the arts and education in Pennsylvania, cutting funding to the arts 10%, 10% to basic education funding, and funding to higher education 45% since taking office.

It is a slap in the face to all who appreciate the vital role the arts and education play in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the Pittsburgh region. Pittsburgh Opera's recognition of the Governor's destructive actions is embarrassing to the Pittsburgh community.

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Ron GaydosPetition Starter
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This petition had 1,923 supporters

The Issue

Tom Corbett has slashed the budget for education and the arts since taking office while simultaneously making  corporate tax cuts of $800 million .

Pittsburgh Opera's press release on the award, however, states "Governor Corbett will be honored for his early work as a teacher as well as his long-standing protection of the public interest as Pennsylvania Attorney General. Additionally, as Governor, he has recognized the economic, educational, and social value of the arts. Mrs. Corbett has been an accomplished producer and presenter of arts programs through the years, and, as First Lady, has championed greater participation in the arts in her role as Chair of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts."

Pittsburgh Opera officials may not be aware that Corbett's first two budgets were extremely damaging to the arts and education in Pennsylvania, cutting funding to the arts 10%, 10% to basic education funding, and funding to higher education 45% since taking office.

It is a slap in the face to all who appreciate the vital role the arts and education play in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the Pittsburgh region. Pittsburgh Opera's recognition of the Governor's destructive actions is embarrassing to the Pittsburgh community.

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Ron GaydosPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

John Federico
John Federico
Pittsburgh Opera Director of Development
Responded
“Dear Ron Gaydos and the other signatories to this position. Pittsburgh Opera has held the Maecenas Benefit Gala to celebrate the end of the opera season and raise money to fund our productions and community programs for the last 28 years. We have frequently taken this opportunity to thank individuals in government, business and the arts for their tangible and intangible contributions to Pittsburgh Opera or to opera in general. You are entitled to your opinions about these issues, and I respect your right to express them; what you are not entitled to is your own set of facts about our decision to thank the Gov. and Mrs. Corbett. This year, the leadership of Pittsburgh Opera extended an invitation to Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award for their support of the arts throughout Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Mrs. Corbett has had a long and distinguished career as an arts presenter, producer and fundraiser – a fact which Gov. Mark Schweiker recognized when he named her to the board of the PCA in 2002 and which Gov. Rendell reaffirmed when he reappointed her to the board in 2009. Over the last ten years, Mrs. Corbett and her colleagues on the board have awarded more than $50 million in grants to arts organizations, including Pittsburgh Opera and many other local organizations. After his election, Gov. Corbett appointed Mrs. Corbett to chair the PCA. A challenging economic climate has provided Gov. Corbett with more than enough reason to cut the PCA’s budget for grants to the arts. Despite those challenges – and in the face of proposals by members of his own party in the State House to cut the PCA budget by 70% -- Gov. Corbett has been steadfast in his support for the PCA. Hundreds of arts organizations across the state – and thousands of people who create art or participate in the arts as consumers – benefit from the $16-million in grants that the PCA has awarded over the past two years, including Pittsburgh Opera. We believe that it is important for us to thank the Governor and First Lady for showing such strong support for artists, arts organizations and the people who benefit from our activities across the state. Sincerely, John Federico Director of Development ”

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Petition created on May 7, 2012