In contrast to last year to last year’s nine month impasse, Pennsylvania legislators and Governor Tom Wolf have reached an agreement on the state budget less than two weeks after the July 1st deadline.
Governor Wolf attributed this partly to the momentum built up by passing medical marijuana, liquor reform, and a new education funding formula.
“There were enough times when Republicans and Democrats, we all stood together smiling for the cameras and did something that made Pennsylvania better,” said the Governor.
Ultimately, there was a changed attitude in Harrisburg, one that fostered compromise.
“We’re going to disagree on a lot of things, but there are a lot of things we agree on. So let's accent those things and move forward in those,” said Wolf.
Though this year’s late budget was passed much more quickly, it was still not passed on time. Some constituents think Pennsylvania lawmakers should have deducted pay for a late budget. The Governor disagrees.
“I don’t think folks put off the budget because they’re being irresponsible. I think they really had questions, and it took some work to get this across the finish line.”
He also does not think there should be such a great emphasis on passing the budget by an exact date, but rather on getting it right.
“Simply passing the budget on time is not what you want if the budget is not a good one,” said Wolf.
This year’s delay was due to the Governor’s desire to see a revenue bill. He was confident the House of Representatives and Senate would come forward with one, so he allowed it to become law before signing it.
The revenue bill did come forward, and the Governor is pleased with it.
“It has revenues, real revenues for a change, that actually goes a long way to paying the expenses that we have.”
Governor Wolf hopes the cooperative spirit will continue in Harrisburg so there can be further progress in opioid funding and education support.
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