HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Even before Gov. Tom Wolf took office, Republican lawmakers drew lines in the sand. Now, Republicans who control the Pennsylvania Senate are under the gun to back up their words with votes.
With two months until the new fiscal year, Senate Republicans haven’t produced a viable plan on two central issues for the GOP. Those are overhauling benefits in Pennsylvania’s two big public employee pension systems and privatizing the sale of wine and liquor.
Senate GOP leaders downplay the importance of passing legislation before they horse-trade with the Democratic governor over his $31.6 billion budget proposal. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman says that if Republicans cannot pass pension or liquor legislation, they’ll turn to Democrats for votes if Democrats expect any part of Wolf’s agenda to pass.