Incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett announced his 2014 statewide re-election campaign Nov. 8 at B. Braun Medical Inc., 901 Macron Blvd., Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Joining Corbett were Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley and First Lady Susan Corbett.

Corbett told the packed room of supporters and B. Braun staff his service as governor is about laying a solid foundation for the future of the state.

"What we are doing is trying to set the course of Pennsylvania," he said. "It's really generational. With your help, we can win."

Although Corbett said he inherited a $4.2 billion deficit from the previous administration when he took over as governor, he said he has successfully kept his initial campaign promises by cutting taxes and wasteful spending and creating more jobs.

"We talked about saving, saving and saving and building and building," he said. "We leveled the playing field and reduced taxes."

Corbett specifically noted some of the accomplishments of his administration including reducing the corporate stock and franchise tax, eliminating the inheritance tax for small business and making changes to the corporate net income tax.

He also said his administration reduced the size of the state vehicle fleet by 20 percent, resulting in $43 million in savings, and created innovation awards which are given to employees of companies who create cost-savings ideas. The awards, Corbett said, have led to over $400 million dollars in savings to taxpayers.

"We [the administration] believe in innovation," he said.

Corbett told the crowd he was also able to restore education funding to pre-2011 levels. He added he was not responsible for cutting educational funding, as many have claimed.

"When you hear people say I cut education spending, I didn't," he said. "It was cut before I walked in the door."

He also said he is opposed to the federal Affordable Care Act, specifically the medical device tax.

Prior to Corbett's press conference, Chairman and CEO of B. Braun Caroll H. Neubauer and other high level company administrators and supervisors provided Corbett a tour of the facilities.

"He gets it," B. Braun CFO Bruce Huegel said.

"He has made job growth his number one priority," Neubauer added. "At B. Braun we share the same commitment."