Pa. GOP Budget Includes $5 Million For Pope's Visit; Fate Of Budget Cloudy
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- As a stalemate takes shape, leaders of the Republican-controlled state legislature said Friday they would begin voting over the weekend on their own no tax-hike state budget, one that would include money for the Pope's visit to Philadelphia. But Governor Wolf is vowing to veto that budget in whole or in part if it reaches his desk.
The GOP budget would include $5 million for security and other issues related to the Pope's visit. But the fate of the budget is very uncertain. Friday afternoon, House Majority Leader Dave Reed said in the absence of an agreement with the governor, Republicans will send Wolf a budget and related bills on or around next week's deadline.
"And the only person who will have the opportunity to shut down government for the people of Pennsylvania sits in the governor's office."
The governor is promising a veto, but said Friday he hasn't decided on a full or partial veto, adding:
"I'm going to do my best make sure that there is as little disruption as possible for everybody who depends on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
Wolf said the GOP budget is riddled with gimmicks.
