NewsRadio 1020 KDKA Editorial: Governor Tom Wolf's First Budget Proposal
Governor Tom Wolf's first budget proposal isn't getting rave reviews.
No surprise.
It sounds like he's hanging out a "Welcome to Taxavania!" sign.
The 30-billion-dollar-plus spending plan –
Uses a crazy-quilt of tax cuts and tax hikes –
To cover a projected 2-billion dollar deficit –
Plus higher spending on education.
Governor Wolf wants to do what's best for the state –
But this seems like a high-risk shell game.
Now is not the time to restructure Pennsylvania's tax system.
The state needs to significantly curb spending –
And that won't happen without pension reform.
If he'd built his budget around that issue –
There would have been some common ground with the legislature.
Republican leaders in both the House and Senate say it's a top priority this session.
Still –
As ill-conceived as this budget may be –
Governor Wolf has said what he wants to do.
Republicans may say "no" –
But now it's their turn to propose an alternative.
Hopefully legislators and the administration – together –
Can create a budget that makes sense.