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Analyst: Wolf Budget Strategy Clever, But Still A Tough Sell

By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A prominent political analyst says Governor Wolf's decision to couple property tax relief with income and sales tax hikes gives him the best chance to get his budget proposal through the legislature. But he says it's a difference between a slim chance… and none.

Franklin and Marshall College professor and political analyst Terry Madonna says Governor Wolf has constructed a multi-faceted budget proposal that is in danger of falling apart if any one piece is pulled out. And he says some of those pieces of the Democratic governor's puzzle – such as property tax relief – are things Republican majority lawmakers might like. He calls the approach ingenious. But that doesn't mean Wolf's chances of pushing through income and sales tax increases are good.

"I think it's going to be very difficult to get this package through the legislature. But it's the only game in town because if he hadn't proposed what he proposed, it was virtually impossible."

Madonna says Wolf has an "outside chance" for approval of the budget as he's packaged it, otherwise Madonna says he would have no chance for income and sales tax hikes.

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