Sep. 30, 2015
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf today vetoed emergency funding legislation that would have eased financial stress on human service providers and public schools statewide. The move prevents distribution of approximately $11 billion that would have carried Pennsylvania through the month of October.
Members of the Adams-York House delegation, state Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Dan Moul (R-Gettysburg), Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg), Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion) and Will Tallman (R-Abbottstown), issued the following statement after the governor’s decision:
“Today’s selfish choice by Gov. Wolf prevents Pennsylvanians’ hard-earned dollars from being put to work as he adds their money to the list of things being held hostage in the nearly three-month state budget impasse. By vetoing emergency funding legislation, the governor is preventing financial support from flowing to domestic violence and rape crisis centers, as well as school districts like York City that are on the verge of making difficult decisions because of his insistence on tax increases that only a handful of people support.
“Even our Democrat colleagues do not have the votes to get behind Wolf’s tax proposal. The June 1 vote on his Personal Income Tax and sales tax proposals proves that. More importantly, calls and emails to our offices reflect Pennsylvanians overwhelming opposition to them.
“Right now, Gov. Wolf is a man alone on his own, private island. He no doubt received Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s report earlier in the day and is well aware of the amount of borrowing to which distressed school districts have been forced to resort. He knows taxpayers will be on the hook for this, as well as the interest attached to the borrowing, and has chosen to ignore those facts.
“When a bill passes, it must have a minimum of 102 House votes, a minimum of 26 Senate votes and one governor’s signature. The numbers are working against him. All we are asking for is the governor to do the math and bring to the table something that has the votes to pass in the General Assembly. His current plan does not.”
York County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com