Senate failes to override Wolf budget veto
An attempt to override Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of the stopgap budget measure failed in the state Senate along party lines Wednesday.
“I have yet to hear a single soul from my district tell me to withhold emergency funding from schools, food banks, rape crisis centers and homeless shelters as political leverage,” said state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, Washington County. “Unfortunately, that’s what my colleagues from across the aisle did today by voting against the veto override measure to provide emergency funding for schools and vital services for our most vulnerable citizens.”
In a 30-19 vote, the proposal to fund social services and school districts failed to garner the two-thirds majority, or 33 votes, to override Wolf’s veto. All three Republican senators in southwest Pennsylvania and their 27 colleagues voted for the stopgap measure, but no Democrats joined them.
Pennsylvania has been without a budget since July 1 after Wolf vetoed one passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature. Wolf vetoed a stopgap budget, which would fund services for four months, in late September.
In a video response posted on his website, state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, said he was “very disappointed” that the veto override failed.
He said it was frustrating knowing that school districts are “running out of money,” food banks have empty shelves and homeless shelter providers, such as City Mission in Fayette County, are considering closing.
Stefano, who ran the family’s printing company before getting elected, compared the situation to contract negotiations, where operations continue under the old deal while a new deal is being discussed.
“Why can’t we do this now?” Stefano asked. “Why are we using the most vulnerable in our society as pawns in this crazy game? And I say crazy. It’s my first time to see it, and I don’t like it.”
“The Senate attempted for the second time to get emergency money flowing again to schools and social service agencies and again this vital funding was blocked,” state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, said in a statement after Wednesday’s vote.
“I believe we ought to be able to work toward a long-term agreement while ensuring a short-term funding plan is in place,” Vogel said. “There is no need to govern from crisis to crisis, and the governor ought not hold school districts and social service agencies hostage while a final agreement is negotiated.”
Budget talks will continue, Stefano said, and a stopgap measure will probably return. “I hate to say the word ‘pressure,’ the pressure is building, but our schools are suffering,” he said. “Our kids are suffering.”