State lawmakers are continuing to hash out a revenue plan that would support a nearly $32 billion budget, with one local representative laying the blame of a shortfall on Gov. Tom Wolf.
“Because Gov. Tom Wolf chose to deficit spend in the prior fiscal year, we ended the year with a $1.5 billion shortfall and that must be recovered,” state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, told The Era on Thursday. “Some lawmakers are pushing for tax increases, and based on the governor’s lack of interest in any other type of revenue proposal, he seems to be holding out for that as well. House Republicans, on the other hand, have been working hard to identify other non-tax options that will not further burden our taxpayers.”
The Associated Press reported on Thursday that Wolf considers a tax increase a necessity to steer clear from a decline in Pennsylvania’s credit rating. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Turzai is against a tax increase.
“This (budget) is the centerpiece of the budget process that outlines how tax dollars are spent on things like education, human services, health care programs and more,” Causer said. “The primary issue still under discussion is the revenue necessary to support the budget.”
At this point, $600 million in aid to Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University and University of Pennsylvania is being delayed in the Legislature, according to the AP.
Even so, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, said that discussions are moving forward for a 2017-18 state budget package.
“While the general appropriations act became law earlier this month, there is a good deal of work still to be completed with code bills and a revenue package,” he said. “The Senate was in session earlier this week and made good progress. The House is scheduled to return to session this weekend and we anticipate the Senate will reconvene again next week.”
State Rep. Matt Baker, R-Wellsboro, painted more of a gloomy picture of the budget negotiations.
“We are always hopeful for a breakthrough agreement but it remains elusive at this point in time,” he said. “The ‘sticking points’ are finding revenues sufficient to backfill an estimated funding gap that is acceptable to 102 House members, 26 senators and the governor. Top concerns for me is to constrain the rate in the spending of taxpayer money that is on an unsustainable tract within the public welfare budget with anticipated declining federal match going forward.”
What needs to happen is an austerity budget that Baker says is “realistic, fair and reasonable given the lack of support for a broad based tax increase that most of my constituents oppose.”
Wolf’s spokesman J.J. Abbott did not immediately return an email seeking comment for this story.
