PA Likely Headed For Another Budget Battle

February 9, 2016

By Melissa Smith | From Watchdog.org

Gov. Tom Wolf delivered a blistering budget address Tuesday in Harrisburg in which he offered a stark warning about the consequences facing the commonwealth if it does not adopt his $33 billion spending plan for 2016-17.

Wolf said Pennsylvania’s finances are a “ticking time bomb” and the failure to pass a “responsible” spending plan could plunge the commonwealth into a financial crisis.

“If you won’t face up to the reality of the situation we’re in,” Wolf said in his sharpest words that were aimed at House Republicans, “if you ignore that time bomb ticking … if you won’t take seriously your responsibility to the people of Pennsylvania — then find another job.”

Some portions of Wolf’s speech were met with boos from the Republican-controlled House, highlighting the political gridlock that continues to delay the passage of last year’s budget by more than seven months. The 2015-16 budget was due last summer and it has inched forward to the point where that spending plan is about 90 percent finished, according to GOP lawmakers.

“The problem is not that Republicans in the General Assembly and I don’t see eye-to-eye,” Wolf said. “No, this crisis is not about politics at all. This is about math.”

Pennsylvania faces a $2 billion budget deficit, and Wolf said the only way to dig out from that hole is to increase spending on things like public education. Those investments would necessitate almost $3 billion in tax hikes.

“Pennsylvanians need to prepare for these consequences,” Wolf said. “And I do not say this with any joy whatsoever. But someone in Harrisburg has to start telling the people of Pennsylvania the truth about the mess we’re in.”

A day before addressing the House, Wolf penned an open letter to Pennsylvanians that foreshadowed steep tax increases.