PHILADELPHIA, PA — Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Marcel L. Groen issued the following statement on the latest budget development:
“Governor Tom Wolf has shown yet again that he is the adult in the room. Despite endless political games from Republicans, Governor Wolf will not let them endanger our schools or jeopardize the health of our seniors. What Republicans in Harrisburg too often forget is that governance has a real, everyday impact on the people of Pennsylvania. And while they may be go to any length for short-term partisan gain, the Governor will never turn his back on our children or the vulnerable.
“But make no mistake, this is not a victory for anyone. This is yet another chapter in the long history of a dysfunctional Republican legislature, kicking the can down the road and protecting the Harrisburg status quo. This budget doesn’t ask rich special interests to pay their fair-share and balloons the deficit to nearly $2 billion. Their approach to governance got us into this fiscal mess, and we need to change course.
“Even if you believe the Republicans’ Enron-like accounting tricks, the budget deficit will cause massive cuts to education, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes and cuts to senior programs. This isn’t a plan that will improve our credit rating or make Pennsylvania a more attractive place to do business and raise a family.
“Problem-solving is not be a partisan ideal. It only happens when public servants, working in good faith, do the jobs they were elected to do. If Republicans want to be a part of a long-term solution, they owe it to their constituents to work with Governor Wolf to move Pennsylvania forward.”
Read the Governor’s remarks here.
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