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Detour around Harrisburg's budget gridlock

The governor and legislature should implement stop-gap funding measures and delay debate on issues not critical to the budget impasse. Such action would ease the gridlock and protect Pennsylvanians from hasty policy decisions that will cost hard-working families more.

"How much longer?"

That's a question Philadelphia parents stuck in traffic on the way to the Shore know all too well. Unfortunately, it's also a question Pennsylvanians will ask for the foreseeable future, as the state budget impasse hits its fourth week — with no end in sight.

Considering Pennsylvanians fork over an average of $4,374 per person in state and local taxes each year — the 10th highest tax burden in the nation — it's no wonder there's frustration when Harrisburg can't seem to get its fiscal house in order.

Although Gov. Wolf vetoed the legislature's no-tax-hike budget, Pennsylvanians don't get to stop paying taxes — not even close. But with the impasse, some services Pennsylvanians count on simply won't be funded. That's like gym members paying full membership fees while the pool and basketball court are closed.

With budget traffic at a standstill, how do we press through the roadblock to a resolution that benefits all Pennsylvanians?

One possibility is a bill introduced by Rep. Dan Truitt (R., Chester) to ensure that important government services remain open during the impasse. Even as legislators work to resolve other budget issues, there is no reason funding for critical services should have to wait. Separate legislation sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument (R., Lancaster) and Rep. Dave Hickernell (R., Lancaster) would ensure that school districts receive funding if summer break ends before the stalemate.

While these measures are temporary, they would alleviate the pain of the government shutdown during negotiations. And they would prevent politicians from holding our neighbors who are dependent on government services hostage with shutdown threats in order to force quick action on bad policy that could have long-term negative consequences.

Beyond stop-gap legislation, certain items can be separated from the budget debate to help end the gridlock — namely, sales, income, and property taxes.

The lion's share of Wolf's $4.6 billion tax increase — which is larger than all other 49 states combined — relies on sales and income taxes that would impact families at every income level. Despite Wolf's focus on a new severance tax on natural-gas drillers during his "Schools That Teach" tour, it's just a sliver — 3 percent — of his total tax plan.

In other words, 97 percent of the governor's plan relies on taxing the income and everyday purchases of all working Pennsylvanians.

Unfortunately, Wolf's spokesperson has said there have "not been any better ideas presented" than tax increases. That's like telling Philadelphia drivers stuck in Jersey Shore traffic that there's no better way home than through Canada.

The spokesperson also said homeowners need property tax relief "now." But Wolf's own so-called relief — which would send just 30 cents of every dollar in new taxes back to property owners — wouldn't start until October 2016.

There is bipartisan support, as well as bipartisan opposition, to alternative plans to shift from property taxes to higher sales and income taxes. In contrast, Wolf's tax plan — which represents a $1,425 increase per family of four while taxing things like nursing-home care, day care, and funerals — received zero votes from Republicans and Democrats.

Separating the most controversial portions of Wolf's plan from the budget debate would pave the way for serious discussion where there is some room for compromise.

And despite appearances, in some ways Wolf and the legislature have more in common than not.

The budget the governor vetoed in toto actually increased funding for education and contained many of his own proposals. General Assembly leaders note that 274 of the approximately 400 line-item appropriations were the same or even more than in Wolf's proposed budget.

The governor and legislature should implement stop-gap funding measures and delay debate on issues not critical to the current budget impasse. Such action would help ease the gridlock and protect Pennsylvanians from hasty policy decisions that stem from budget road rage but end up costing hard-working families.

Matthew J. Brouillette is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation (www.commonwealthfoundation.org).   info@commonwealthfoundation.org