Wolf, GOP lawmakers make plans to resume talks after veto

Wolf, GOP lawmakers make plans to resume talks after veto


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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative leaders agreed Wednesday to restart budget talks after Wolf vetoed a Republican-crafted spending plan that every Democrat legislator voted against.

As the state began the new fiscal year without even a partial budget in place, both sides said discussions would begin Monday in hope of bridging the vast gap between Wolf's plan, which would raise taxes and substantially increase education funding, and the GOP plan that had no new taxes and much more modest school spending.

"We have obvious disagreements, but we are going to come up with a budget that moves Pennsylvania forward," Wolf told reporters after the brief closed-door meeting.

"We are on the same page in terms of wanting to do what's right for the people of Pennsylvania," he said.

House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, said Wolf's decision to veto the entire $30.2 billion budget bill rather than individual line items amounted to putting the state into "government shutdown mode." He expressed concern that the lack of appropriations would create hardships for people who rely on social services provided by the state and nonprofit groups.

"People need to come to the table in a serious way" to reach an agreement and "get government operating at full-speed once again," Reed said. "Hopefully that will take weeks, not months."

The administration has said the immediate effect of not having a budget would be minimal because state agencies can tap surpluses and nonstate funds to continue operations. Programs involving public health, welfare and safety will continue to operate as usual, officials said.

"We recognize on our side we need his signature, but he's going to have to recognize that even if all of the members of his own party agree, he still needs a significant portion of the Republican caucus to get that agreement to his desk," Reed said.

In his written veto message, Wolf illustrated the challenge Democrats face in looking for a deal. Republicans hold substantial majorities in both chambers, and there is little evidence that the sides are anywhere near a compromise.

"The citizens of Pennsylvania sent us here to do serious work and to address problems facing this commonwealth," the governor said, repeating the policy objectives he has outlined for months — money for schools from a tax on natural gas drilling, cuts in local school property taxes, job creation efforts and what he calls "a solution to fix the structural budget deficit."

"This bill fails to accomplish these essential tasks, so I cannot give it my approval," he said.

Wolf has not said whether he'll sign liquor privatization and public-sector pension changes that also passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly on Tuesday.

Besides Reed, other Republicans attending the meeting included House Republican Whip Bryan Cutler and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph. House Speaker Mike Turzai and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman joined the discussion by telephone.

The halls of the Capitol, teeming with people a day earlier, were relatively quiet Wednesday morning, and some lawmakers were wondering what happens next.

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia, said he would not be surprised if the budget standoff lasted for months, perhaps to the end of 2015.

Wolf "wants his views to be taken into consideration," Cohen said. "People are not looking for the fifth year of the Corbett administration."

Wolf defeated Republican Gov. Tom Corbett in the November election, denying him a second term.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said he has not seen much sign of compromise from Wolf since he took office in January.

"They haven't given on anything," Benninghoff said. "Do I think that we can come to some negotiations on a budget? That depends what the will is."

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