Pennsylvania residents have an important task as the state embarks on a new era under Gov. Tom Corbett, who was sworn in on Tuesday.

That task is to hold not only Corbett, but all members of the state General Assembly, responsible for cooperation not seen in the commonwealth for a long time.

It’s going to take a level of cooperation not seen in Pennsylvania government for too many years to overcome the serious problems that face the commonwealth.

It’s not only the projected $4 billion budget hole that the state is facing, but also unemployment and the decline of manufacturing and other businesses, as well as infrastructure issues, on which Harrisburg’s attention must become more intensely — and cooperatively — fixed.

The strict, unproductive partisanship that has become rooted in vitually all that Pennsylvania government does must be cast aside and replaced by bipartisan determination to find and implement the remedies that have remained elusive, in many cases only because leaders have been unwilling to access them.

Politics always is a part of government, but, now that the election is over, politics must be secondary to the important work that lies ahead for Corbett and lawmakers.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle must be encouraged to help identify the prescriptions to address the state’s ills. And, unfortunately, many of the remedies that the state needs will be painful and, in some cases, politically unpopular.

Political courage and making tough choices will be required.

Corbett, Pennsylvania’s 46th governor, in his inaugural address, promised that he would “dedicate each and every day over the next four years to fiscal discipline.”

He should have put more emphasis during that address on the fact that he alone can’t achieve the kind of discipline necessary for the commonwealth to address its challenges. Regardless, he must continue to emphasize that fact now that he has gotten down to work as governor.

Near the beginning of the inaugural speech, Corbett pointed out that the state’s founders stood true to the belief that civility stands at the core of fair and peaceful government.

“Let us take this opportunity to begin a new kind of debate — one that honors our shared history and unites us as citizens in common purpose,” Corbett said. “In doing so, I have great faith that we will unleash a new common prosperity to benefit all Pennsylvanians.”

For Corbett, it’s now time to make good on the promises of his campaign and the message he delivered Tuesday.

It’s also time for state residents to acknowledge that some of the problems and controversies of the past — and lack of progress on some issues — might not have occurred if they had been paying closer attention to what was happening in Harrisburg — and demanding more of their elected officials.

The people of the commonwealth must not repeat that error.