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Republican Leadership Finds Common Ground in Wolf’s Budget Proposal

Source: PAHouseGOPMultimedia

Although it’s not a “slam dunk,” Republican leaders voiced their approval for parts of Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal delivered yesterday, while distancing themselves with the more progressive initiatives laid out.

“I guess I will break with tradition as the opposition party is to come out and sort of ridicule or complain about the governor’s proposal,” Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said. “I think there is a lot of there that we can embrace and get behind at least generically.”

Wolf’s $34.1 billion budget proposal, an increase from the previous year’s budget, calls for an increase in education funding and improving workforce development, among other things.

GOP leadership appeared optimistic with Wolf’s focus on workforce development and think this should be a top priority that all can agree on.

“We welcome the governor’s support for improving Pennsylvania’s workforce development platform and share in the desire to attract and grow businesses that provide high-paying, family-sustaining jobs,” House Republican leaders issued in a statement. “However, we also remain committed to regulatory and tax reforms that will allow our economy to grow and provide better opportunities for all Pennsylvanians.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati echoed the calls for seeing workable parts of Wolf’s budget, but believes lowering the corporate net income tax is a pressing matter.

“We need to continue and I’m optimistic that the Governor is talking about the corporate net income tax,” Scanati said. “We must lower the corporate net income tax.”

Scarnati believes that various regulations and tax rates have stymied progress in Pennsylvania and although he sees areas of agreement with Wolf’s proposal, he thinks there is still work to be done.

“This budget is not just going to be a slam dunk,” Scarnati said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

One of the biggest takeaways from Wolf’s budget proposal was his call to not introduce any new taxes, which Republican leadership side with, but specifically took issue with his call for an increase in raising the state’s minimum wage.

Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) stated towards the end of the Republican leadership address that he believes the budget will be agreed upon by the June 30 deadline.

3 Responses

  1. In R leadership response they said they were not opposed to looking at minimum wage and felt they had to.

  2. GOP wolf in sheep’s clothing. Against raising ludicrously low minimum wage, but all for cutting corporate taxes and eliminating regulations (that they claim stymie business), except oppose all worker safety and environmental regulations.

    1. Where are you getting that he’s opposed to raising the minimum wage? He literally just called for an increase like a few days ago.

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