Wolf speaking Monday morning in Harrisburg.
Credit: State of PA
There has been a truce in the 2015-2016 Pennsylvania budget impasse.
On Wednesday, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf told reporters he would allow a $6.6 billion measure take effect Sunday without signing off on it. The move brings an apparent end to nine-month-long 2015-2016 budget impasse.
Wolf said he would not use his power to veto the budget, which should have been passed by July 1, 2015.
From Wolf’s office:
“I am going to allow the 2015-2016 budget to become law without my signature. This will allow for funding to go out to schools and other services in the short term, but we still face enormous problems that this budget does not even pretend to address. Let’s be clear: the math in this budget does not work. Next fiscal year – that already has a $2 billion deficit – will now begin with an extra $300 million deficit. Ratings agencies and the Independent Fiscal Office have all agreed that we face a massive structural deficit. Left unaddressed, the deficit will force cuts to schools and human services, devastating credit downgrades that will cost taxpayers millions, and increase property taxes for our senior citizens. We must face this reality this year and balance our budget with real, sustainable revenues.”
The Republican-backed $6.6 billion budget closure package completed the $30 billion budget. Earlier this year, Wolf agreed to free up a large portion of the money to help free up funding for state-funded programs and school districts.
The battle over the budget focused much on Wolf’s plan to provide more funding for schools. He argued in his election campaign that he would help fund public schools.
Despite the spending plan being allowed to lapse into law, Wolf appears to be gearing up to fight the Republican-led legislature over the 2016-2017 budget.
