Pennsylvania Governor Relents After 9-Month Budget Impasse
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's Democratic governor says he won't block Republicans' $6.6 billion no-new-taxes spending package after nearly nine months of budget gridlock.
Gov. Tom Wolf's announcement Wednesday that he's backing off his veto threat leaves Illinois as the only state without a budget in place for the current fiscal year.
Wolf said he'll let the measures become law and complete a $30 billion budget. Wolf had faced significant pressure from Democratic lawmakers worried about schools closing in the coming weeks.
The budget delivers a $200 million boost to public school aid, half of what Wolf originally sought. But he insists crucial state services face cutbacks next year without a tax increase to wipe out a long-term deficit.
The sides now have to negotiate a new, election-year budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.
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