HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Governor Tom Wolf today vetoed the Republican stopgap budget. He also released a statement:
“Instead of seriously negotiating a final budget that funds education with a commonsense severance tax, fixes our deficit without gimmicks and provides property tax relief for middle-class families and seniors, Republican leaders passed a stopgap budget that once again sells out the people of Pennsylvania to oil and gas companies and Harrisburg special interests. Republican leaders are intent on Harrisburg politics as usual and embracing a failed status quo that is holding Pennsylvania back. Just like their sham budget in June, this stopgap budget makes it clear that Republican leaders not only want to do nothing to move the commonwealth forward, but they are intent on taking us backwards. If the Republican budget became law, our deficit would balloon to $3 billion, and instead of restoring education funding, even further cuts would become necessary, and our credit rating would become junk status – that’s unacceptable.
“Throughout negotiations, I have tried hard to compromise, and recently, I offered historic reforms to the liquor and pension systems, two areas Republicans say are priorities, and in return, I have received nothing on education, a severance tax or fixing the deficit. Despite the political posturing and blatant obstruction by Republican leaders, I know there are rank and file Republican legislators who understand the importance of investing in education and there are rank and file Republican legislators who support a commonsense severance tax. Now is the time to come together to accomplish that goal – Pennsylvania cannot wait any longer.
“At every turn, Republican leaders have prevented serious negotiations because they are unwilling to take on oil and gas companies and Harrisburg special interests to make the long-term investments in education and the changes needed to help Pennsylvania families.”
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says some school districts across the state are already feeling the effects of the budget impasse. The affected school district are estimated to borrow half a billion dollars in October. He says taxpayers are footing the $11 million in interest and fees related to those loans.
"These are school districts from all over the state of Pennsylvania," he says. "They are rural, suburban and urban. And the cost is going to go up each and every month."
Republicans also issued a statement:
“It’s shameful to watch Governor Tom Wolf single-handedly withhold funding for our schools and social services so he can try and force tax increases,” Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason said. “For nearly three months now, school districts and non-profits organizations across Pennsylvania have been forced to wonder if they can pay their next set of bills, and all because Tom Wolf decided to play political games with their funding.
“While Republicans spent the summer trying again and again to provide critical to our schools and non-profits, Tom Wolf created a budget crisis based on a plan that was even rejected by members of his own Party.
“The fact of the matter is that Tom Wolf is campaigning for the largest tax increases in the country, and won’t accept anything less.
“I applaud Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, Speaker Mike Turzai, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, House Majority Leader Dave Reed and Senate and House Republicans for their continued efforts to serve the people of Pennsylvania, and not liberal special interest groups.”