Democratic Gov. Wolf's Second Budget Address Falls Flat With Majority Republican Lawmakers
HARRISBURG, Pa., (CBS) – Governor Tom Wolf is again proposing a menu of tax increases to fund his priorities. Chief among those priorities, more money for schools. But in addition to the tax hike proposals, the tone of the governor's speech struck a sour note with majority Republican lawmakers.
In his second budget address, coming with his first budget still unfinished, Democratic Governor Tom Wolf was highly critical of the Republican-controlled legislature, saying the state is facing a serious deficit hole.
"It's simply unbelievable that some folks in this chamber want to address that problem by continuing to dig," said Wolf.
Republican Jake Corman, the Senate majority leader, says Wolf's speech only made divisions wider.
"I don't know where he thinks we go from here. I don't know how he thinks that that gets him votes," said Corman.
The governor proposes to increase the state personal income tax from the current 3.07 percent to 3.4 percent, and he wants to extend the sales tax to other things including basic cable TV and digital downloads. He wants to increase the cigarette tax a dollar a pack, tax other tobacco products and e-cigarettes, and to impose a tax on natural gas extraction.