It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…

“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is committed to finding solutions, compromising, and working with both Republicans and Democrats to improve Pennsylvania. 

Unfortunately, the governor isn’t practicing what he’s preaching. 

Angela Coloumbis of the Inquirer reports that Wolf’s spokesman Jeff Sheridan has emphatically repeated Wolf’s opposition to Senate pension reform legislation and other Republican ideas to end business as usual in Harrisburg. 

As I point out in a recent letter to the editor, Gov. Wolf needs to stop blocking transformative reforms—like liquor store privatization, pension reform, and the Taxpayer Protection Act—critical to achieving prosperity for all Pennsylvanians.

I’m disappointed to see Gov. Wolf’s spokesman Jeff Sheridan accuse Sen. Bartolotta (Governor wants to reinvest in higher education, April 29) of having a “profound misunderstanding” of middle class families, while at the same time misleading readers about how Gov. Wolf’s proposal harms those same middle class families.

Sheridan conveniently fails to mention that Wolf proposed taxing university fees, textbooks, and meal plans—to the tune of $150 million per year.

Middle class students will pay the brunt of that burden—as will middle class families paying more for nursing home care, day care, diapers or utility bills. A recent study by the Independent Fiscal Office notes that every income group will pay more under Wolf’s tax increases.

While Sheridan repeats campaign slogans about changing the status quo and blames the previous administration, Wolf’s budget calls for more of the same. Following decades of spending increases and tax hikes, Pennsylvania’s tax burden rose to the 10th highest in the nation. As a result, Pennsylvania has ranked among the worst states in job, income and population growth for 40 years.

Ironically, it is Gov. Wolf who is saying “no” to needed reforms to get our state on the right track. He has already threatened to veto liquor store privatization and has indicated opposition to pension reform. Wolf has also been silent on Sen. Bartolotta’s own Taxpayer Protection Act—which would limit the growth of state spending and unleash the private sector.

Higher taxes and spending won’t fix Pennsylvania’s economy, and it’s time for Gov. Wolf to stop blocking reforms that will offer prosperity for all Pennsylvanians.