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Both sides of the aisle react to Governor Wolf’s speech

In his Inaugural speech, Governor Tom Wolf put the focus on jobs, education and a government that works. But with a split legislature and a $2 billion budget de...

In his Inaugural speech, Governor Tom Wolf put the focus on jobs, education and a government that works.

But with a split legislature and a $2 billion budget deficit, Republicans say he hasn’t made it clear how he thinks it will happen.

But on Inauguration Day, Wolf laid out his goals: “As your governor, I will do everything in my power to make Pennsylvania a place where jobs pay, where schools teach, where government works, and where every pennsylvanian can believe in the fundamental notion that our democracy works,” he said.

Democratic lawmakers were energized by the speech.

"Absolutely excited and inspired, I couldn't be more happy to represent York, I couldn't be more happy to call the Wolfs friends, I couldn't be more happy to have Governor Wolf now leading Pennsylvania," says Rep. Kevin Schreiber, (D)-York.

But Republican critics say the speech sounded like a repeat of Wolf's campaign promises, without solutions. Some say they were ready for specific proposals but they didn't get them.

"The idea of spending more on education and ignoring our pension crisis, those are nice things on the campaign trail, but the reality is that money has to come from somewhere," says Matthew Brouillette, President of conservative think tank, the Commonwealth Foundation.

Some of Wolf's predecessors say he was right to stay positive in his first official speech.

"It's a very good first step, challenges aplenty, but I thought he set the right tone in his remarks," says former Governor Tom Ridge (R). "Let's face it, the governor has yet to go through his first budget and really know the inner workings of all of the programs, and I think the importance of today was to set a tone on generally where he wants to focus, it was very clear, he set a very positive tone and very important focus."

Former Governor Ed Rendell (D) rejected comparisons that Wolf was a "third-term Rendell."

"Tom Wolf will be his own man, you can guarantee- you can bet your ass on that," says Rendell.

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