State Budget Impasse Ends

Hanna, Scarnati Offer Comments

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf today announced he will let the remainder of the 2015-16 budget in Pennsylvania become law without his signature. His decision to not challenge the most recent document passed by the Republican-controlled legislature will end the state’s more than eight month old budget stalemate. His acceptance means that delayed funds should be shortly released for school districts, social service agencies and rural critical care hospitals including the Bucktail Medical Center and Jersey Shore Hospital

State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, said he believes Wolf made the right decision:

“Harrisburg remains broken and because of this Pennsylvania continues to face a huge fiscal cliff. The governor is taking steps to ensure our schools remain open and our human services remain committed to those in need,” Hanna said.

“It is encouraging to hear members on the other side of the aisle come to the realization that the state has a huge structural deficit. The problem has come to a head and has now been acknowledged. I can only hope that this acknowledgement fuels the GOP’s desire to compromise on a common-sense balanced budget for fiscal year 2016-17.”

Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati (R-25) whose senatorial district now includes Clinton County also issued a statement, blaming the stalemate on Democratic Gov. Wolf:

“Governor Wolf’s decision today to allow House Bill 1801 to become law will actually move our Commonwealth forward.  After over nine months of Governor Wolf continually refusing to sign the complete budgets presented to him by the General Assembly – he has finally ended the crisis he created.

“Senate Republican Leaders and Governor Wolf have very different philosophies of how to govern.  While the governor looks at raising taxes as the first course of action to close the budget deficit, we look at reforms as a first course of action.  Before asking for more of our constituents’ hard earned dollars, we should be sure that government is doing all that we can to operate efficiently.

“Today’s completion of the 2015-16 budget is a victory for Pennsylvania taxpayers and families.  Because of the budget passed by the Senate and House of Representatives, schools, hospitals, and the many vital programs that depend on state funding will finally receive what they need.  Being a leader is about bringing people together.  As we now look towards completing a budget for 2016-17 we hope to see more leadership and not partisan politics from the governor, Scarnati said.”

Hanna said that the spending plan that will become law at 12:01 a.m. Monday does not adequately solve the state’s growing deficit, but the measure will allow delayed payments to flow to school districts, human service providers, and other entities.

Hanna said he encourages all members of the General Assembly to come to the negotiating table ready to do what’s best for constituents and pass what he termed “a balanced, common-sense budget by the June 30 deadline.”