Wolf’s Veto Withholds Billions in Funding, Unnecessarily Jeopardizing Important State-Supported Programs
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf’s full budget veto withholds nearly $13 billion in state funds from state agencies and state government service providers who are responsible for providing services ranging from educating children to assisting victims of rape and domestic violence.
House Appropriations Chairman William Adolph, Jr. (R-Delaware) said, “Gov. Wolf’s veto was an overreaching knee-jerk reaction that unnecessarily withholds billions from service providers. His veto of funding for nonprofits, schools and social service providers to gain leverage in his quest for higher taxes is unfortunate and will negatively affect innocent people and organizations.”
State law and case law dictates certain obligations will still be honored even if there is no spending authority granted by the General Assembly through a General Appropriations Act. Salaries for state employees, debt service payments and expenditures required for the health and safety of Commonwealth residents will still be paid during Wolf’s budget standoff.
The House Appropriations Committee completed an analysis of all state spending to determine what payments would be in jeopardy if Wolf’s budget standoff continued for an extended period of time.
“Our analysis shows that nearly $13 billion will not be distributed to state agencies and state government service providers that deal with all types of services ranging from fighting poverty, combating hunger, helping crime victims and supporting cancer research if Gov. Wolf’s budget standoff would continue for an extended period,” said Adolph.
As an alternative to a complete budget veto, the governor had the ability to exercise a line-item veto and “blue line” specific appropriations where there continues to be disagreement.
A comprehensive list of General Fund Appropriations that will either in whole or in part have funds withheld as a result of Wolf’s blanket veto are listed below.
Representative William Adolph
165th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Michael Stoll
717.787.1711
mstoll@pahousegop.com
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