Think tank points out common ground in Pa. budget tussle

In a state budget stalemate with few compromises, a left-leaning think tank has proposed focusing on property tax relief in Pennsylvania to prompt some bipartisan agreement.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf made his pitch to offer property tax relief central to his budget plan.

And in May, the state House passed a GOP-crafted proposal with bipartisan backing. It included the kind of broad-based tax increases Republican leaders now say they can’t support.

After the liberal Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center compared the two plans, a co-author of a three-part report said they’re similar enough to suggest common ground is within reach.”This is the area where, if we’re going to manage to escape the partisan kabuki play, this is an area that might begin that,” said Stephen Herzenberg.

There has been little mention of compromise on the major items that divide the governor’s office and the Republican legislative leaders.

And Wolf said recently he thinks GOP lawmakers have been “testing” him.

Republicans have said the governor’s proposal is so large they’re waiting for him to offer a more modest plan.