Local legislators urge Wolf to sign budget

While he is vetoing the plan, he is releasing emergency funding for key services including school districts and social services on an as-needed basis.

The main budget bill, part of a $30.3 billion package but without key pieces that fund colleges and universities, was sent to Wolf’s desk after it was signed by House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny. Wolf said that decision came out of a desire to continue negotiating toward a final budget that provides a full year’s worth of funding – and fulfills his call for $350 million in new education spending. Both proposals required unspecified tax increases.

Wolf called the $30 billion spending plan a “ridiculous exercise in budget futility” and called on state lawmakers to get back to work.

The Democrat said he released more than $23 billion, using used his line-item veto power for the first time since he took office in January.

Governor Wolf’s budget action allows Philadelphia schools to operate beyond the end of next month.

“I’m calling on our legislators to get back to Harrisburg – back to the work they left unfinished last week”.

Republicans are urging Wolf to sign it, and stop the borrowing, layoffs or service delays by school districts, counties and social services agencies struggling to get by without state aid. “At the same time, I’m allowing emergency funding for our schools to get out”, he said.

“I don’t think him signing means he loses and the GOP wins”, Patti said. He said the schools will be getting the money they are owed from the past six months.

Budget talks that have seemed to go on endlessly had at one point drawn in a number of other issues, including privatizing the state liquor stores, forcing newly hired teachers and state workers into a combination of a traditional pension and a 401(k)-type benefit, and cutting the much-hated property taxes that fund public schools. That is a $7 billion reduction from the GOP budget. “I think that was something we need to do”.

“The Governor just announced he will veto part of the budget passed by the House and Senate last week”.

In recent weeks, Wolf had been pushing legislators to pass a so-called framework agreement that he and Senate Republicans had touted since Thanksgiving. States usually enact a budget at the start of the financial year, which for most states is on July 1.