Free Republic

Gov. Tom Wolf picked the big lumber off his policy bat rack Wednesday, unveiling a $37.8 billion state budget proposal that calls for the kind of sweeping change that he started his tenure in office with six years ago. Wolf proposed a major tax reform that also - and unfortunately for the governor and his allies - can be accurately described by his Republican critics as the single-biggest income tax increase ever seen in Pennsylvania, even though it would only ask the top one-third of state wage earners to pay more, according to the administration’s numbers. Gov. Wolf proposes Pa.’s...

At a glance: Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal once again includes a municipal fee that’s expected to raise $168 million for the Pennsylvania State Police. Unlike in previous years, when the proposal failed to pass the Legislature, this fee would be charged to all municipalities based partially on services rather than focusing on a specific group of communities. Across all funds, including a significant one-time infusion of COVID-19 aid via the federal government, the agency’s budget remains relatively flat at $1.38 billion. Over at the Department of Criminal Justice (corrections, probation and parole to us laypeople), total funding decreases slightly...

The state government appeared on the edge, for the first known time, of missing a payment as a result of not having enough cash on hand amid a feud over how to patch a $2.2 billion budget gap. Gov. Tom Wolf's office has not revealed how the Democrat will manage through a cash crunch that he has said will leave his administration unable to pay every bill on time, three months into the fiscal year. Beginning Friday, the state's main bank account was projected to go below zero.

Gov. Tom Wolf warned lawmakers on Tuesday that Pennsylvania's finances are a ticking time bomb amid a record-long budget gridlock, as he sent them a spending proposal for the coming fiscal year with no full plan in place for the year that began back in July. The first-term Democrat delivered an approximately $33.3 billion plan for 2016-17 to the Republican-controlled Legislature as he tries again to break down resistance to a multibillion-dollar tax increase that has held up passage of a budget for the current year. Wolf delivered his message in a blunt, 25-minute speech that prompted objections from most...

A 30.3 billion dollar budget for Pennsylvania's 2015-2016 budget year was suddenly passed by the Republican controlled State Senate last evening. The Republican-controlled House looked ready earlier yesterday to move forward with approval of Democrat Governor Tom Wolf's 30.8 billion dollar plan that increased spending six percent. But the House adjourned amidst pressure from citizens concerned about tax hikes and amid concern over 'ghost votes'. Two Democrats not present at the Capitol Tuesday were counted as YES votes in the crucial 100-99 vote to put Governor Wolf's budget on the table. This new 500 million dollar less budget had been...

As weeks without a budget turned into months, Republicans decided to push through a stopgap plan to get money to schools, government agencies and programs while talks on a complete budget deal continued. Again it was on party lines, again Wolf vetoed it. "I understand we have divided government," Wolf said. "What I don't understand is people who don't want to govern at all." A few days later the Republican leaders announced they would give the governor a chance to demonstrate he has the votes for tax increases through a floor vote next week, and Democrats have been scrambling to...

HARRISBURG — As powerful politicians clash over Pennsylvania’s lengthening state budget impasse, members of a small band of largely backbench conservative Democrats are exercising a little muscle of their own. The so-called “Blue Dog” Democrats in the House have openly defied a call by Gov. Ed Rendell and leaders of the House Democratic majority to support an increase in the personal income tax. And they did so in a building in which rank-and-file legislators generally fear the punishment that might result from thumbing their noses at their caucus leaders. Many of the 25 or so Blue Dogs are from western...

Tens Of Thousands Pennsylvania Prison Inmates ... ... will still be paid for the jobs they do at state correctional institutions even as the people who guard them and see to their welfare run the risk of going unpaid in the event of a budget impasse this summer, The Morning Call has learned. Concerns about public safety helped drive the decision to continue paying the 31,175 inmates who do everything from serve meals to sweep cell-blocks at the state’s 27 correctional institutions. They’re paid 19 cents to 42 cents an hour for their labors, spokespeople for Gov. Ed Rendell and...

PLAINS TWP. (PA)-- Although thousands of state employees will not be working today because of a budget stalemate, the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was not forced to shut its doors on patrons at 7 this morning. Bobby Soper, CEO of the casino, received a Commonwealth Court decision around 11:40 p.m. Sunday, in which the court issued a temporary injunction to prevent a shutdown of the state’s casinos. “I’m pleased with the decision allowing us to stay open (today),” he said. “Not only is this great news for the 3,500 employees who work in the five state casinos, but also...