Local lawmakers weigh-in on partial budget signing by Wolf
A partial budget signed Tuesday by Gov. Tom Wolf that will allow some state money to flow drew criticism from local Republican lawmakers and an admonishment from Democrats to their fellow GOP members to end the bickering among one another.
“Until and unless the Republicans in the House and Senate stop fighting, we’re not going to get anything done,” said state Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township. “They control the process.”
Mahoney’s remarks were prompted after Wolf rejected the GOP-crafted spending plan, but did free up education and health and human services money with his signature.
“I am expressing the outrage that all of us should feel about the garbage the Republican legislative leaders have tried to dump on us,” said Wolf during his news conference. “This budget is wrong for Pennsylvania, and the legislature, the folks we elected to serve us, need to own up to this.”
The state has been without a budget for six months with both sides pointing fingers at one another for the deadlock.
According to reports, the line-item vetoed budget will allow the spending of about $23 billion of the $30 billion budget.
The budget was sent to the governor prior to Christmas.
While good news for cash-strapped school districts, state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, said that the governor should have addressed the matters in July.
“The most vulnerable in our society shouldn’t be used as hostages in negotiations,” he said.
School districts, including several local ones, have had to borrow money to continue to operate during the budget impasse.
The initial budget framework that included property tax reform, real liquor privatization, pension reform, additional education funding and revenue to pay for it, has now been abandoned, said Stefano.
“As we sit here today, all that remains are tax increases and education funding,” he said. “It’s time to face the fact that the framework was never real and is dead.
“Without pension reform, I cannot support any increase in revenue as pensions are the main cost driver in almost every aspect of the budget.
“If we don’t divest state government from the liquor business, I cannot in good conscience say to Pennsylvanians we need more tax revenue. The people of Pennsylvania do not support more taxes. They pay enough.”
Stefano also was critical of Wolf’s statements that the budget framework was supported by the House and that the Senate cut education spending in its proposed budget.
“They are lies,” he said. “The (House) vote he refers to was a fraud because of the ghost voting by a few members for others not present for the vote — a clear violation of House rules.
“Secondly, the governor said the budget we sent him cut education funding because school construction costs were eliminated.
“In reality, the administration and the legislature agreed to refinance school construction costs, which is why that was not in this budget. The governor is well aware of this fact, yet continues to perpetuate this lie.
“His own budget secretary admitted that basic education would increase.”
State Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, said that the governor failed to admit how this budget will adversely impact the middle-class.
“When a $30.3 billion budget that increases education spending is not enough, it begs the question: ‘when is enough enough for Pennsylvania taxpayers?'” said Warner. “And, in a desperate and disappointing attempt to spin the truth, Gov. Wolf is characterizing that a more than $400 million increase in K-12 education as a $95 million cut.
“He must have used Common Core math to fabricate that number.
“The taxpayers I represent do not want, nor can they afford, to send more of their hard-earned money to Harrisburg. They want to see government live prudently and spend wisely, just like they are required to do in their homes with their family budgets.”
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, said while pleased that education and social service money can now be dispersed, much work remains to be done.
“Since June 30, multiple funding proposals have been presented to Governor Wolf, but today represents the first time he has not fully blocked the funding from being released,” she said. “While today’s announcement was a welcome piece of good news, it does not address the long-term fiscal problems that continue to face the commonwealth, such as reforming our public employee pension systems in order to prevent taxpayers from shouldering enormous new financial burdens.
“This budget proposal provided a record $10.7 billion to education. It is simply disingenuous to claim otherwise, and now is certainly not the time for partisanship or rhetoric. As a freshman senator and someone new to Harrisburg, I have been extremely frustrated with how this entire budget process has unfolded. I remain sincerely committed to doing my part to end this impasse and truly believe that we can properly invest in education and fund the core functions of state government without imposing more burdensome taxes on the residents of Pennsylvania.
“There is no doubt that much work remains to finalize the state budget as a number of worthwhile state programs and services remain unfunded. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate and the House to find the common ground necessary to pass a budget framework that moves our state forward and protects taxpayers.”
Wolf called on lawmakers to return to Harrisburg.
“Let’s get back to work to finish the job you almost finished last week,” he said in concluding his news conference.
Stefano, meanwhile, said that he anticipates the GOP leadership will be discussing the next steps over the coming days.
“I’m hopeful that with the threat of school closures off the table that we can come together as leaders and calmly negotiate an end to this budget nightmare,” he said.
State Reps. Peter J. Daley, D- California, and Ted Harhai, D-Monesson, could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
Only Pennsylvania and Illinois remain without an approved budget.