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Local lawmakers divided along party lines in budget debate

By Patty Yauger pyauger@heraldstandard.Com 6 min read
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Mahoney

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Snyder

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Stefano

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Warner

Gov. Tom Wolf’s action to veto the Republican-backed $30.1 billion budget late Tuesday has drawn criticism from local GOP lawmakers, while Democratic legislators are standing fast with the state’s top official.

State Republican Sen. Pat Stefano, Bullskin Town-ship, said he holds the governor solely responsible for the lack of a budget that offered an increase in education funding and no increase in taxes.

“Apparently, $370 million in new education spending is not enough,” said Stefano on Wednesday. “According to the governor, a $30 billion budget is just too small.

“Simply put, Governor Wolf believes that (homeowners, business owners and others) are not paying enough taxes and he won’t relent until (they) are.”

Stefano said that his vote to pass the no-tax increase budget was aligned with what his constituents wanted from him and the General Assembly.

“People in our area are already struggling to pay their bills,” he said. “I can’t think of anyone that wants to pay more taxes.”

In the governor’s budget, the personal income tax rate would be increased, along with the sales and use tax. It is estimated the new tax rates would bring in $2.4 billion in increased personal income taxes and $1.5 billion in sales taxes.

Stefano said that the state’s Independent Fiscal Office estimated that every household and business would be impacted by the new taxes.

“We worked very hard to pull this budget together,” said Stefano. “I’m very disappointed with the governor’s decision to veto it.”

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D- South Union Township, termed the GOP budget “a sham.”

“They just pulled numbers out of the air,” he said. “It was all for show.”

The plan by Republicans to sell off the state’s liquor and wine stores and utilize the anticipated $220 million to help balance the budget, is only a ploy to break the unions, said Mahoney.

“The Republicans have drawn a line in the sand,” he said. “It is going to be a long summer.”

Both a privatization bill and a pension reform bill were, along with the budget, sent to the governor for his signature. The bills have yet to be addressed by Wolf.

Earlier this year the governor said he favored modernization of the system, not privatization that would allow licensed stores, beer distributors and others to sell the products.

Late Tuesday after vetoing the spending plan, meanwhile, Wolf said that the Republican budget failed to get his support because it did not fulfill the needs of the state’s education system or address rising property tax rates.

“The citizens of Pennsylvania sent us here to do serious work and address the problems facing this commonwealth,” said Wolf in a press release. “This includes enacting a budget that contains fair and adequate education funding in part by implementing a commonsense severance tax, providing property tax relief to Pennsylvania families and seniors, fixing the structural deficit, and providing a sound plan to create jobs across this commonwealth.

“This budget does not accomplish these essential tasks, so I cannot, in good faith, give it my approval.”

Wolf said that the GOP spending relies on “$1.5 billion in gimmicks and one-time fixes and would lead to a $3 billion deficit.

State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, said that she backs the governor’s spending plan as it makes provisions to increase education funding and address property tax reform.

“”I’m a firm believer in us having a balanced budget – which is not what was put before us this week (in the GOP budget),” she said. ” I am a firm believer in restoring our basic education funding formula and a very firm believer that we need property tax reduction and property tax reform.”

Snyder added that she would also support the tax increases as proposed by Wolf if the revenue would be solely used to enhance education funding and reduce the property taxes of her constituents and other property owners across the state.

“I believe we can get there if the four caucuses and the governor can sit down in a room and everybody gets real and leaves the politics outside the door.”

State Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, said Wolf was presented a balanced spending plan.

“Governor Wolf has ignored his constitutional obligation to sign a balanced, on-time budget,” said Ryan. “Shutting government down and vetoing the entire budget was a choice, and frankly, a choice that was made based on one sticking point: Our budget does not tax the hard-working people of Pennsylvania enough.”

Ryan said that Wolf’s insistence that the legislature approve only his budget is not in the best interest of Pennsylvania residents.

“He continues to refuse to take any taxes or spending off the table, even though his plan was voted down unanimously by the legislature,” he said. “The governor’s all-or-nothing stance is reckless, and demonstrates only politics, not real leadership.

“If Governor Wolf wants more money for the budget, he needs to take a serious look at cutting more government waste, fraud and abuse. Pennsylvanians should not have to pay more taxes.”

While Wolf had the opportunity to do a line item veto, he chose instead to abandon the entire spending plan, a move that has not taken place for about 40 years, according to G. Terry Madonna, Franklin and Marshall College political science professor.

In the past 10 years, only three state budgets have been enacted on July 1.

In 2003, the June 30 budget deadline was surpassed by 176 days as the General Assembly and governor battled over the spending plan. In 2007 the passage was delayed by 17 days and in 2009, the state budget was not passed until Oct. 9.

Stefano, meanwhile, said that GOP leadership was to meet with Wolf Wednesday afternoon to discuss the next steps.

“The state still has revenue, so the bills can be paid,” said Stefano.

As to whether a compromise can be reached, the freshman lawmaker said that the budget sent to the governor’s desk was balanced and met the state’s fiscal responsibilities.

“In my opinion there is no need for negotiation,” he said. “However, I know that something has to be done.

“Our leadership is meeting with the governor today (Wednesday) and we’ll likely learn then what the next step will be.”

Snyder said that it is imperative that the two sides understand that compromise is the next step.

“There has to be compromise to do what is right for the people of Pennsylvania,” she said.

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