Governor caves after nine-month impasse
Wednesday, Mar 23, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* No, not ours. Pennsylvania’s…
The nine-month-long Pennsylvania budget impasse is over.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf said while he won’t sign the Republicans’ $6.6 billion no-new-taxes spending package, he won’t veto it either.
That means it will lapse into law on Sunday, and complete a $30 billion budget.
“To allow us to move on from the problems that have plagued 2015-16, I am going to allow this bill to become law,” he said.
But while making the announcement, the Democrat criticized the spending plan, saying “This budget doesn’t work. The math doesn’t work, and that’s a real problem. But we need to keep our commonwealth working.”
So, we’re the last state without a budget. Hooray!
…Adding… Heh…
I think he should shave his head.
- first time - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:49 pm:
Here’s why: “Gov. Tom Wolf had received increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers to relent on this veto threat, and some raised the possibility of voting with majority Republicans to override Wolf.”
- Gordon Willis - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:49 pm:
In the spirit of baseball season. ..can we swap governors?
- A worker - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
So what’s the message? In a hold out situation, Republicans win, or legislatures win?
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
That’s good news for citizens, taxpayers, AND voters…of Pennsylvania.
- MissingG - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
Rich, that headline was cruel.
- AC - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
==So, we’re the last state without a budget. Hooray!==
Explains #Winning
It never made sense to me before. /s
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:52 pm:
But, but… but what will become of Gov. Wolf’s “Turnaround Agenda”
What about the SuperStars?
Ugh.
- Johnny Pyle Driver - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
Rich, you rapscallion! I had already put on my party hat!
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
Sad, but what is sadder is that we’ll probably still have an impasse when PA finishes it’s FY 17 budget. Our governor doesn’t care that we don’t have a budget.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
Simple Plan-
“Last One Standing”
How many times are you gonna try to shut me out?
I told you once, told you twice, I ain’t gonna turn back around
You can say whatever, try to mess with me
I don’t care, I’m not scared
You don’t have to say your sorry, save your sympathy
With a friend like you, I don’t need an enemy
I would give you time if you were worth it
But guess what, you’re not worth it
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, I’m always gonna be the last one standing
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, ’cause I’m never gonna give up trying
And now I’m ready to go, I’m here, I’m waiting for you
And I’m gonna be the last one standing
The last one standing
Did you think that I would surrender easily?
Just like that, you were getting rid of me
Is that the way you saw it all go down?
I don’t think, I don’t think so
There’s not a word you can say I haven’t heard before
So give it up, give it up unless you want a little more
You think you’re pretty tough, so let’s throw down
It’s alright, I’m alright
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, I’m always gonna be the last one standing
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, ’cause I’m never gonna give up trying
And now I’m ready to go, I’m here, I’m waiting for you
And I’m gonna be the last one standing
I won’t give up, I keep trying
(I’m always gonna be the last one standing)
It’s not over, I keep fighting
(I’m always gonna be the last one standing)
I won’t give up, I keep trying
(I’m always gonna be the last one standing)
It’s not over, I keep fighting
I keep fighting!
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, I’m always gonna be the last one standing
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, ’cause I’m never gonna give up trying
And now I’m ready to go, I’m here, I’m waiting for you
And I’m gonna be the last one standing [x2]
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, the last one standing [x2]
- burbanite - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
- first time - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:49 pm:
Here’s why: “Gov. Tom Wolf had received increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers to relent on this veto threat, and some raised the possibility of voting with majority Republicans to override Wolf.”
Exactly, now switch the parties and replace Wolf with Rauner and the impasse is over.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
Actually, we have a de facto budget that has out-of-control spending, historic deficits and does not fund vital core functions.
That’s a first in Illinois history.
Who says Rauner isn’t shakin’ things up?
- Rhino Slider - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:56 pm:
The pressure from special needs groups doesn’t seem to bother Madigan. Am I wrong?
- Angry Chicagoan - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:57 pm:
@A worker, Probably legislatures. As with here, Pennsylvania elected a governor of one party and gave a decisive win to a legislature of another. Only difference is they gave Wolf a much bigger win than we gave Rauner, while their legislative map is much more strongly gerrymandered to favor their incumbent legislative party than ours is.
- Blue dog dem - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 1:58 pm:
I would love to see a $30 billion/yr budget.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:01 pm:
I think I may have dislocated my finger eagerly clicking on this link…
– MrJM
- Magic carpet ride - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
Im moving to Pittsburgh.
- Ahoy! - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:03 pm:
After looking at that beard, i don’t think we should ever have a budget, let it grow.
Is question of the day going to be, should Governor Rauner sign the budget that has $4 billion unaccounted for just to have a State budget? Or have we already done that one?
- Albany Park Patriot - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:09 pm:
Did the Pennsylvania governor just have his rear end handed to him at the polls by voters able to voice their opinions on his agenda and the people he supports? If so, this is a good analogy for Illinois.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
HBO - “Dad’s Home State?” - Season 2, Episode 25
Bizzaro Bruce takes selfies with students at Pat’s Philly Cheesesteaks. Bizarro Diana visits a YMCA in Harrisburg, wonders if they’d consider changing the name on the building. Bizarro Diana’s Bizzaro State Employee donates Steelers football tickets to charity. Bizzaro Lance tweets pictures to Philly legislator from Pirates spring training, Bizzaro “ck” emails towns surrounding Erie about town hall votes, Bizzaro Goldberg writes a letter to the Ben Frankiln Society. Television’s Kramer and George narrate. Comedy, 81 Minutes.
- ORD - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:14 pm:
Missing G +1
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
OW with all do respect, is it odd we never hear of the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE of the PA GA. Why is that. No snark.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
=== is it odd we never hear of the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE of the PA GA. Why is that===
Because we live in Illinois?
That has to be the weirdest comment of the day that made it through the filters. Seriously.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
Rich Miller just trying to reinforce the point OW makes is that “Governors Own. We hear of a gov two states away because he wears the jacket too.
- Linus - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 2:44 pm:
==I think he should shave his head.==
I think he should shave the Governor’s head.
And Illinois’ Governor, not Pennsylvania’s.
- DuPage Bard - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
Sucking up the ideological pride for the good of the State and the people you serve Governor. Such an amateur.
That guy in PA is weak and he obviously doesn’t understand -short term pain is acceptable for long term progress.
Full snark!
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
Man what a tease. I got all excited. We are just every kind of suck.
- Honeybear - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
Grisly Adams does not look amused.
- State Worker THX 1138 - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
Illinois is number one! Yay! Take that WI and IN!
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 5:40 pm:
Win for one of Governor Rauner’s constituencies (Steelers season ticket holders)
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 5:46 pm:
- Anonymous -,
After clarification, understood.
Crazy. Same as it ever was, no matter the year, state, or situational premise… Governors own. They always do.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 5:56 pm:
You probably can’t name the legislative leaders in Kansas either. But it was the threat from moderate Republicans to join with Democrats that forced Governor Brownback to drop his hardline partisan agenda and right that state’s budget.
I am sure Oswego Willy recalls Governor Rauner promising he’d be nothing like Brownback.
Another broken promise.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Mar 23, 16 @ 8:38 pm:
Is Duck Dynasty becoming a sponsor of CapFax?
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Mar 24, 16 @ 8:58 am:
I’m sure if Rauner presents a “no new taxes”/sequestration budget, the Democrats will breath a sigh of relief and cry “Finally! Let’s get this bill to a vote!”