Pennsylvania House Budget Override Vote Fails
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Lacking Democratic votes for the two-thirds majority required, Pennsylvania House Republicans have failed in their unprecedented attempt to partially override Governor Wolf's eight week old veto of the state budget.
Democrats, including Governor Wolf, declared unconstitutional the effort, on a selective line by line basis, to partially override Wolf's veto of the budget.
After emerging from a brief and unproductive budget negotiating session Tuesday, the governor declined to comment whether the override effort might complicate talks. "I don't know why they're doing it. I wouldn't care to infer anything from what they're doing."
House Republicans denied that the effort was unconstitutional, and some, like Scott Petri of Bucks County, suggested it shouldn't matter. "And I say, who would bring that challenge? And shame on them if they do."
Republicans say overriding the veto of budget lines with agreed-to spending levels would have been the quickest way to get money to struggling human service agencies.