October 18, 2015
It's now been more than 100 days since Pennsylvania has had a budget.
Since the Commonwealth's House Republicans shot down Governor Tom Wolf's tax plan, negotiations have been particularly stale, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
According to the newspaper, Wolf spoke to reporters Friday and expressed frustration in offering compromises to GOP lawmakers but not getting anywhere.
Conversely, Republicans say they have offered alternatives in producing revenue for the state, such as privatizing liquor stores and pension reform, and are working under the impression that Wolf's proposed income tax hike is no longer an option.
More than a week had passed since House Republicans had defeated his plan to fund the state's spending plan through tax hikes. Neither the governor nor legislative leaders had returned to the bargaining table, instead leaving the talks to their staffers.
Amid the budget fight that has in many ways defined the first year of Wolf's administration, some have questioned his abilities in the executive office.
Joel Mathis of Philly Mag opined earlier this week that the governor has shown so far that he can't, well, govern, as he refused to compromise on liquor privatization or pensions in order to get his tax increase on the state's Marcellus Shale industry to fund education. More from Mathis:
There’s something admirable about Wolf’s professed desire not to kick the can down the road, to wait until he can get a deal that fixes all the problems — a $2 billion deficit included — facing the state of Pennsylvania. But politics is the art of the possible, and the big fixes Wolf seeks aren’t available to him right now, at least not on his terms. Better to grab the smaller opportunities available now, declare victory, and fight another day. Sometimes you take half a loaf.
Penn Live columnist John L. Micek responded to Mathis, saying he partly agreed with him but felt that he left Republicans off the hook.
Specifically, he cites the GOP's decision to send Wolf a $30 million budget he had already said he was going to reject. More from Micek:
But as I've noted before, the Republicans behaved much the same as my daughter does when I tell her that she can't have the super-fancy Barbie she wants, and then watching her act shocked and angry seconds later as I reject the very Barbie I had previously told her she couldn't have.
No matter who's to blame, there have been side effects from Pennsylvania's absent budget.
One has been the state's credit. Moody's Investors Service downgraded it to negative Friday due to a "contentious political environment," impacting the state's $10.9 billion general obligation bonds.
In addition, nonprofits are bleeding money while some state schools could face a shut down before students get to Christmas break.
All the while, the war of words rages on:
It's now DAY 110 of Gov. Wolf's #PABudget impasse. Pennsylvania needs you to end this now, Governor. pic.twitter.com/oPddkAbTwv
— PA House Republicans (@PAHouseGOP) October 18, 2015
Here are 5 things that will happen if Republican leaders fail to take on the status quo → http://t.co/p4r9FZP6w8 pic.twitter.com/AiXKujiUZA
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) October 15, 2015
