Gov. Wolf: A 'Train Wreck' Is Coming If Budget Isn't Balanced
HARRISBURG, Pa. (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA/AP) - Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is warning of huge cuts in spending for education and local services next year without a balanced budget as Pennsylvania lawmakers return to the state Capitol.
Wolf spoke to the "KDKA Morning News" with Larry Richert and John Shumway and says he's trying to avoid a "train wreck" that would also drive up local taxes.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate were set to reconvene Tuesday amid a 7-month-old budget fight that's left billions in school aid in limbo.
Wolf's pressing for a tax increase to deliver a record boost in public school aid and to fix a long-term deficit. But, that plan stalled and Wolf says the Republicans haven't figured out how to pay for the spending in a plan they sent to him before Christmas.
Wolf says that government needs to get it right with the 2015-16 budget, "because we are facing - in 2016- 17 - a huge hole."
"We have outside rating agencies that have already downgraded our debt, which is raising...expense all across the state and that's going to raise taxes," Wolf said.
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