Onorato says Corbett slammed jobless months ago

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato renewed his attacks on Republican rival Tom Corbett on Wednesday, contending Corbett had first impugned the motives of some jobless Pennsylvanians more than three months ago.

"Tom Corbett has said since March that he thinks Pennsylvanians would rather be unemployed than earning money for their families," Onorato said at a rally in Philadelphia that featured labor leaders and job-seekers.

The City Hall event was part of a campaign swing as Onorato, trailing in a recent poll, tried to capitalize on Corbett's comments last week.

Corbett, the attorney general, on Friday said he had heard from several Pennsylvania employers that some jobless people said they would only come back to work " 'when the unemployment runs out.' That's becoming a problem."

After the remarks set off criticism, Corbett on Tuesday retreated, saying that his words had been "insensitive" and that most of the state's jobless - 591,000 people in all, according to government statistics - want to work.

According to a transcript published by Capitolwire.com, Corbett, speaking at a job-training center in Lancaster on March 18, said he thought the people seeking training were in the minority.

"I heard that's only 10 percent of the people that are on unemployment in this county," he said, answering a question from an Associated Press reporter. "The other 80, 90 percent, where are they? What are they doing? Are they looking for a job?"

At the time, Corbett questioned Congress' extensions of unemployment benefits. "Yes, we are taking care of people, but are we encouraging them not to look?" he said, according to the transcript. ". . .What are we doing to help them look for the job and kind of push them if they're not looking?"

The Inquirer's repeated attempts to reach Corbett for comment this week have gone unanswered.

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley told the Morning Call of Allentown on Wednesday that Corbett believes "the vast majority of people on unemployment are looking for work and want to find a well-paying job."

One self-described job hunter at Onorato's event in Philadelphia held a sign aimed at Corbett: "You have a job. Can we have a job?"

Ryan Boyer, a business manager for the Laborers District Council of Philadelphia, said he was offended by Corbett's remarks, having been a construction worker "and being out of work and knowing how much of a toll it takes on your family."

Onorato contended Corbett had dodged questions about which employers he was quoting about jobless people.

"This is a core belief that he has, that somehow unemployment checks cause unemployment," Onorato said. "And the fact that he won't give the details of who the companies are and who said it, I simply don't believe it."

Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.