Budget clock ticking, Wolf stays mum
HARRISBURG - Will he sign or veto? Five days after the Republican-led legislature handed him a proposal that could end the state's six-month budget stalemate, but also cast aside his call for a historic increase in school funding, Gov. Wolf did neither Monday.
HARRISBURG - Will he sign or veto?
Five days after the Republican-led legislature handed him a proposal that could end the state's six-month budget stalemate, but also cast aside his call for a historic increase in school funding, Gov. Wolf did neither Monday.
But he also suggested the wait for an answer wouldn't be long.
After remaining silent on the budget issue for most of the day, the governor's office said it would hold a Tuesday morning news conference for "a budget-related announcement."
There were no clues on what that announcement would be, and the Capitol was largely empty.
Earlier in the day, a top Wolf aide lashed into the GOP's plan, specifically for underfunding schools - a priority issue for the first-term Democratic governor.
"The Republican budget is another display of fiscal irresponsibility," said the statement from the policy secretary, John Hanger.
The $30.2 billion plan passed by the legislature is more than $500 million less than the one Wolf and Senate Republicans had been touting since before Thanksgiving. A chunk of the difference is money that would have gone to public schools.
The Senate passed the plan last week after a bipartisan budget proposal fell apart in the House.
By rule, the governor has 10 days to act on bills that hit his desk.
Wolf vetoed a similar proposal in June, and could do so again to force negotiators back to the table. If he signs the bill, funds would be freed up for school districts and nonprofits that have been pushed to the brink without state aid during the stalemate.
Or the governor could choose a middle road, selectively vetoing pieces of the measure while approving others. That would allow money to be distributed to specific agencies as lawmakers continue work on a final resolution.
House and Senate lawmakers are not scheduled to return to the Capitol this week, but could be called back if needed.
Wolf's pen was not totally inactive on Monday. His office announced that he had signed six bills into law, including a change to the Tobacco Product Manufacturer Directory Act to include taxes on roll-your-own tobacco containers.
609-217-8305
@cs_palmer