Pa. budget talks may stall before they start
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Gov. Tom Wolf visits Professor Dan Reed's automotive service technology class at the Community College of Philadelphia. The governor's budget talks with the Republican-controlled Legislature may stall before they start.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Pennsylvania lawmakers have wrapped up budget hearings, which follow the governor’s budget proposal every year.
Now the negotiations begin, but it’s just not clear how that process will work.
One month ago, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed raising sales and income taxes, cutting business taxes, providing targeted property tax relief, and pumping a lot more money into education. But the path toward those goals is still murky.
The Republican-dominated Legislature isn’t keen on this plan, said Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re just not going to do,” he said Thursday. “And so the problem getting started is, where do you start?”
Wolf, however, is optimistic.
“Basically what we’re starting with is, I think, something that actually appeals — should appeal — to every legislator,” he said.
The governor was a bit more direct speaking to WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane on “Radio Times.” She reminded him of his opponents.
“Have you been able to convince them in any way that there are parts of your budget they would want to support,” she asked.
“Uh, not yet,” he answered.
The budget is due by the end of June.
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