With First Budget Unfinished, Wolf To Propose Budget No. 2 Today
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) -- Governor Tom Wolf finds himself in a position unlike no other governor in recent decades: he is scheduled to propose his second budget today while his first budget remains incomplete.
Democratic Governor Tom Wolf spent his first year battling the Republican-controlled legislature essentially to a stalemate, partially signing and partially vetoing what he called a "garbage" budget in late December. And Wolf has already signaled that he won't back down from seeking significant increases in education spending in his second budget address today, on top of increases still outstanding from his first budget proposal. Lehigh Valley Republican Pat Browne, the Senate appropriations chairman, says he never contemplated a situation like this.
"No, no, we're in uncharted territory, absolutely. We're looking at essentially a two year budget now. Two proposals coming forward – the first time since the 1960s," said Browne.
But Browne says he's optimistic that a budget can get done because he believes the governor and legislative leaders have a had a full year now to take the measure of each other and better understand each other's priorities.