Wolf Blocks Education Funding,
Issues 6th, 7th & 8th Vetoes

Students, Disabled, & Struggling Held Hostage by Governor’s Tax-Hike Fixation

September 29, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—“The answer’s no. Now, what’s the question?” This seems to be Governor Tom Wolf’s method of “compromise.”

Today, Wolf issued his 6th, 7th, and 8th Vetoes, rejecting an $11 billion spending measure and accompanying bills passed by the state Legislature which would have retroactively funded schools and social service organizations from July through October of the current fiscal year.

“It’s astonishing that Governor Wolf is blocking immediate funding for students, the disabled, and struggling citizens unless his tax demands, which amount to $1,400 per family of four, are met,” stated Nathan Benefield, vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. “The governor claims he’s holding out for increased education funding, but legislative leaders already offered the $400 million increase he requested in his original budget proposal. With these vetoes and rejection of increased education funding, Governor Wolf has demonstrated that he’s really just holding out for higher taxes on Pennsylvania families—families who already bear the 10th highest tax burden in the nation.”

“While a stopgap budget is not a permanent solution,” Benefield continued, “it would have freed children and struggling citizens from being held hostage to Governor Wolf’s demand for higher taxes—a position he placed them in with his initial veto of a no-tax-hike budget in June.”

“It’s time for Governor Wolf to end his fixation on higher income taxes, higher sales taxes, taxes on diapers, taxes on day care, taxes on college meal plans, taxes on nursing care, taxes on funerals, taxes on energy—the list goes on and on—all of which would be paid by hardworking families.” 

Nathan Benefield and other Commonwealth Foundation experts are available for comment today. Please contact John Bouder at 717-671-1901 or [email protected] to schedule an interview.

# # #

The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.