Wolf sets conditions for interim budget

Day 77

: Gov. Wolf said Tuesday that he would sign a stopgap state budget expected to be proposed by Republican legislators but only if both sides can agree on what their final spending plan should contain.

During a radio-show interview, the Democratic governor offered his first public reaction to their decision last week to vote on a temporary budget, which could happen as early as this week. Wolf said he could support "a reasonable" but temporary budget that would resume funding for key services.

But he also stressed there was no deadline by which he would feel compelled to accept such a solution and said he would only consider it if there was also a deal on key elements of a final budget.

"I think if we get to a point where we have general agreement on what the budget looks like - and it's going to take some time to actually get the details in place - I'd be for a stopgap there," Wolf said on Pittsburgh station KDKA-AM. "But only in that case. Not as something that's put out there as an alternative to a budget or something that's sort of a feel-good gesture."

The state has been operating without a budget since July 1, holding up payments to counties, public schools, and social service nonprofits that rely on state aid. Wolf wants new and increased taxes to boost education funding. Republicans who control both legislative chambers want changes to the state public pension and liquor store systems.

The Senate is scheduled to return Wednesday and vote this week on a stopgap budget. GOP leaders have released few details, but it is expected to give the state authority to spend money through October.

A possible sticking point: It contains largely the same funding proposed over the summer in a GOP-authored budget - one that Wolf vetoed.

The Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services, which represents private agencies who provide child welfare and juvenile justice services, filed a lawsuit Tuesday trying to compel the Wolf administration to keep its funding going.

The council said it represents more than 100 agencies with state and local contracts that together employ about 15,000 workers.

"The state has a responsibility and a duty to fund these critical, essential programs," said Alex Rahn, the group's government affairs consultant. The lawsuit was filed in Commonwealth Court.

- Angela Couloumbis