Pennsylvania will avert food stamp cuts in a surprise move from Corbett

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has not been a great friend to poor people, to say the least, so this comes as quite a surprise: Corbett is following the lead of Gov. Dannel Malloy in Connecticut and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York, both Democrats, to avoid cuts in food stamps. Corbett will increase the amount of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits to $20 for households that would otherwise lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits:

The governor's decision will preserve benefits for 400,000 Pennsylvania households slated to lose a monthly average of $60 to $65 each in benefits, amounting to $300 million a year, said Kait Gillis, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Welfare.

Corbett faces a tough re-election campaign this year, but whatever his motivation, this will prevent real suffering in his state, and he's the first Republican governor to take this action, so kudos. For this and this only.