email from Governor Wolf, 3/24/16

I won’t sign the Republican budget because the math simply doesn’t add up.

According to their own arithmetic, the Republican budget creates a $1.6 billion deficit in 2016-17 that will prompt massive cuts to education, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and cuts to senior programs.

They’ve fought for the failed status quo and they should be held accountable for their actions.

But it’s time to do the responsible thing and end the current impasse to get money to our schools and ensure seniors have the life-saving prescriptions they need.

While I cannot in good conscience attach my name to a budget that does not balance, I am going to let HB1801 become law.

It means that schools will stay open through the end of this year. Seniors will get the drugs they need at affordable prices this year. Counties and municipalities will have the state funds they need to operate this year.

But unless Harrisburg changes its ways, they won’t have adequate funds for next year.

Let’s not pretend anymore.

The Independent Fiscal Office isn’t pretending.

The rating agencies that have warned Harrisburg about another credit downgrade if they don’t help get our fiscal house in order aren’t pretending.

Pennsylvanians who want schools that teach, jobs that pay, and government that works aren’t pretending.

We need to get back to work on creating a real and balanced budget — and if you’re with me, I hope you’ll call your State Senator and State Representative:

Senator Andrew Dinniman (D)
(717) 787-5709

Representative Dan Truitt (R)
(717) 260-6164

Thank you,

Tom Wolf