Pa. Gov. Wolf threatens veto of GOP’s spending bill in budget fight

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is threatening to veto Republican spending legislation that could arrive on his desk by day’s end.

In a statement today, Wolf said Republican lawmakers are passing “another irresponsible and unbalanced” budget bill that doesn’t fund schools or fix an approximately $2 billion projected deficit.

His statement came shortly after the Republican-controlled Senate passed the $6 billion spending bill, 31-18, with just one Democrat supporting it. Approval in the GOP-controlled House was expected within hours.

Republicans say it’s designed to resolve a partisan budget fight that’s left schools, hospitals and universities warning of closures or layoffs two-thirds into the state government’s fiscal year.

Wolf is proposing a $2.7 billion tax increase to wipe out the deficit and boost school spending. Republican leaders say they’re committed to avoiding a tax increase.