Pennsylvania emergency officials prepare for hurricane

Rather than learn from that mistake – and rest assured, it was a mistake – Wolf has now doubled down and vetoed the stopgap budget recently passed by the Legislature.

Wolf has sought a multibillion-dollar tax increase that he says is necessary to wipe out the GOP’s funding cuts for schools and human services enacted under his Republican predecessor, Tom Corbett, and to eliminate a long-term budget deficit.

“Today’s budget certainly clarifies that Gov. Wolf is fixated on taxing and spending his way out of the state’s problems”, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati said at the time.

The Democratic governor issued the order Thursday.

“PennDOT is preparing for this storm like we would any potential significant event”, said Secretary Leslie Richards. Instead, they have pressed Wolf to overhaul benefits in Pennsylvania’s two big public employee pension systems and to privatize the state-controlled wine and liquor store system.

Republican leaders shot back with a July 6 letter to Wolf that accused the governor of holding “those who would receive these funds captive during this unnecessary budget standoff”.

“I think we want a real budget and I think the only things standing between us and a real budget are the Republican leaders”, said Wolf.

House Majority Leader David Reed has said he believes that there are not enough votes the Governor’s plan, however, citing a lack of support by Democrats.

Republicans are confident that won’t happen, and no one can know what comes next if they’re right.