Gov & Legislative Leaders Dig In Over Pa. Budget
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Lawmakers returned to the state capitol with a budget deadline looming, and developments on Monday do not bode well for meeting that June 30th deadline.
Monday featured finger-pointing between the Democratic Wolf Administration and leaders of the Republican-controlled legislature, with each side accusing the other of refusing to negotiate. The Republicans say public employee pension reform is their top priority. But House Speaker Mike Turzai says the governor refuses to consider their plan to put future employees in a defined contribution retirement plan:
"We don't think this is negotiating in good faith and we think it's the single most important issue."
But Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan doesn't buy the GOP stance that pension reform is the foundation for discussion of other issues:
"If they are unwilling to have any other conversation other than liquor reform and pension reform, then they are the ones who are unwilling to negotiate."
Sheridan claims the governor is the only one willing to negotiate.