Budget Impasse Continues With Differences From Last One
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Remember the sounds of protest in 2009 when protesters chanted, "A budget. When do we want it? Now!"
It was the last major budget impasse when then-Gov. Ed Rendell and the legislature failed to reach an agreement for weeks.
State workers got no paychecks, parks closed, state benefits were jeopardized.
Fast forward six years, and we have another budget impasse.
But not quite the same crisis -- yet.
Why?
First, although there is no budget, state workers are getting paid.
"In 2009, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling stating that under federal law state employees must be paid timely for the work that they perform," Dan Egan with the Pennsylvania Office of Administration told KDKA political editor Jon Delano on Tuesday.
Gov. Wolf has ordered state workers to keep working and get regular paychecks.
The governor also wants benefit payments and public safety services funded while he and the Republican-controlled legislature cut a deal.
"In many cases, there are federal laws or court decisions or even state Constitution that mandate that certain payments or certain functions of government must continue regardless of whether there is a budget," says Egan.
Still, some won't get paid until the impasse is over -- like vendors who work for the Commonwealth, including those hired by PennDOT to rebuild roads -- and certain state-funded non-profit and county services could be jeopardized, including domestic violence and rape programs, homeless assistance, and legal services.
"The challenge for them is to make ends meet in the meantime," adds Egan.
And school districts could miss out on their August checks from the state.
On KDKA Radio on Tuesday morning, the governor said he's looking for a deal.
"I have been willing to compromise. We've been having conversations," said Wolf.
But so far, no agreement.
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