Wolf to appeal to rank-and-file GOP lawmakers on budget plan

Frustrated with the protracted budget stalemate, Republican legislative leaders on Wednesday said they will allow a vote next week on Gov. Wolf’s proposals to raise the sales and personal income taxes – if only to show the administration there is no support for them. “Republican leaders are intent on Harrisburg politics as usual and embracing a failed status quo that is holding Pennsylvania back”. “It would also have released federal funds that are administered by the state”.

To pass his bills, Wolf will have to convince 18 GOP representatives and 6 GOP senators of his plans, provided every Democrat aligns with the Governor. “A stopgap is not good government, but it is preferable to service reductions or provider shutdowns that can not be recovered by those adversely affected”.

DePasquale’s office surveyed officials at almost 300 of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts to reach those figures. The $11 billion proposal would cover costs incurred between July and September by school districts and county-run social services.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Jefferson) put it this way: “If the votes are there – and we don’t think they are – then we’ll be done”.

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. He also wants measures to cut residential school property taxes and impose a severance tax on the natural gas industry.

“The governor will continue talking to rank-and-file Republicans who understand the importance of fixing our deficit and investing in schools, to try to reach compromise on a plan that will move the commonwealth forward – no details have been finalized”, the governor’s press secretary, Jeff Sheridan, said.

“I said, ‘I’m a no on that bill, ‘” Petri said. Meanwhile, they have pressed Wolf to end the traditional benefit in Pennsylvania’s two big public employee pension systems in favor of a 401(k)-style retirement plan and to privatize the state-controlled wine and liquor store system.

If Wolf drops his income and sales tax demands, Reed added, he believes all sides can fairly quickly “get to the business of negotiating a budget that we can get the votes for”. But Republicans have criticized both proposals as not far-reaching enough.

“I’m willing to let him (Gov. Wolf) make his case and let members decide for themselves”, Reed said later in the day. “It’s time we all find out who shares that vision”.