Commonwealth Foundation President Matt Brouillette On The Risk Of Lack Of Funding For Schools After Governor's Vetoes

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Philadelphia (CBS) - Matt Brouillette, President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, criticized Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf for vetoing a Republican budget proposal earlier this year and not moving to compromise on a solution.

Brouillette told Talk Radio 1210 WPHT's Dom Giordano that schools will soon run out of money if a deal is not struck soon.

"A lot of school districts are wondering how long they're going to be able to have children in their buildings because the Governor vetoed the funding that's supposed to be flowing to the public schools. This isn't because the legislature has cut funding, or anything of the sort, it's that he vetoed a budget that would've provided record high spending in our public school system."

He contends the conflict is unnecessary because the commonwealth's schools are already one of the most heavily funded in the nation.

"State funding has gone up and up and up. In fact, we are spending more in state dollars today than we ever have, even with that federal stimulus money. Pennsylvania is the tenth highest in the nation on a per student, spending over $15,000 per kid. This is even before we add even more money to the public school system."

Brouillette argued Republicans are trying to get something passed but Governor Wolf is standing in the way.

"The Republicans even made a compromise offer to spend another $300 million in the public schools because that's what the Governor has been demanding in exchange for dealing with the pension crisis that is threatening to bankrupt school districts as well. He has yet to respond to that offer [from] the Republican legislature."