Pennsylvania budget fight’s bottom line, as usual — taxes

Pennsylvania is now five months into a budget impasse with taxes a main sticking point. That’s a scenario familiar to anyone who’s tried to understand the Byzantine motives that drive elected officials in its capital city.

A “framework” agreement being worked out between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature is teetering on the edge of collapse.

One key element is increasing sales taxes to plug a budget deficit and cut school property taxes. Republicans say that lacks support among their ranks.

The latest apparent collapse of those talks this week was followed — less than an hour later — by an announcement by Republican leaders that their framework with Wolf remained in place.

They say they’re working through the holiday weekend to iron out the details required for a real agreement.