Wolf Advisor: Hope ‘Waning’ On Budget Talks

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) —  It’s been an up and down week for budget negotiations in the state capitol and Wednesday the situation took another downturn.

On Monday, leaders of the Republican-controlled legislature charged that Democratic Governor Tom Wolf was not negotiating in good faith on the issue of public employee pension reform. On Tuesday, the House Republican leader was taking a softer tone.

But yesterday, it was Wolf advisor John Hanger who came out fuming after a meeting to discuss the governor’s proposal to tax natural gas extraction, saying Republicans wouldn’t negotiate seriously. Hanger said Wolf still clings to hope for a budget agreement before Tuesday’s deadline.

“He remains hopeful that, in fact, the Republicans will negotiate in good faith on all of these items. Today’s another illustration that that hope is waning.”

The spokesman for House Republican leaders called Hanger’s allegation that the GOP is not bargaining in good faith “hogwash.”