Wolf seeking ‘honest conversation’ with GOP on Pa. budget

    With nine days left in Pennsylvania’s fiscal year, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s frustrated with the apparent unwillingness of the Legislature’s Republican majority to have “an honest conversation” about Wolf’s priorities.

    Wolf told reporters Monday that GOP leaders are more interested in their agenda, such as privatizing the state’s wine and liquor stores and reducing the cost of public pensions, than in Wolf’s proposals for increasing public school funding and reducing local property taxes.

    Wolf said he plans daily meetings with Republican leaders this week.

    House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin said the governor is being inflexible because he’s shown no willingness to back off the new taxes he’s proposing to increase state spending about 9 percent to $31.6 billion.

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    No major floor votes were scheduled Monday in the Legislature.

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