HARRISBURG, Pa., July 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Governor Tom Wolf today took action on a variety of bills
related to the budget he vetoed on Tuesday including House Bill
466. The Governor signed a variety of additional appropriation
legislation into law, including funds that support public safety,
small businesses and consumer affairs.
The Governor vetoed House Bill 466, House Bill 762,
and Senate Bill 655. In veto messages to the General Assembly,
Governor Wolf spoke to why he vetoed these bills, which failed to
adequately and responsibly address the pressing issues facing
Pennsylvanians.
Regarding House Bill 466: "This legislation falls short of a
responsible means to reform our state liquor system and to maximize
revenues to benefit our citizen," Governor Wolf said. "It makes bad
business sense for the Commonwealth and consumers to sell off an
asset, especially before maximizing its value. During consideration
of this legislation, it became abundantly clear that this plan
would result in higher prices for consumers. In the most recent
case of another state that pursued the outright privatization of
liquor sales, consumers saw higher prices and less selection."
"Modernization of our state liquor system would provide
additional revenues to the Commonwealth and save important,
family-sustaining jobs. We can support and bolster consumer
convenience without selling an asset and risking higher prices and
less selection for consumers. I am open to options for expanding
the availability of wine and beer in more locations, including
supermarkets. I have also put other compromises on the table,
including variable pricing, direct shipment of wine and expanding
state store hours."
On House Bill 762, the School Code: "This bill contains many
laudable items which I support," including the Basic Education
Funding Commission formula, Governor Wolf said. "Unfortunately,
this bill fails to restore the harmful education cuts imposed on
each school district over the last four years, nor does it provide
adequate funding to ensure Pennsylvanians have schools that teach
our children. This bill only distributes an additional $8 million into K-12 education, which is not
adequate classroom support for the children of this Commonwealth.
Simply stated, it fails to meet our constitutionally required
obligation of providing a thorough and efficient system of
education."
Senate Bill 655, the Fiscal Code, "fails to adequately pay our
bills," Governor Wolf said. "It relies on over $1.5 billion in one-time revenues, payment delays
into the next fiscal year, and fund transfers. It is not a balanced
budget and it will lead to a $3
billion deficit and credit downgrades for the
Commonwealth."
"This bill creates an additional $10
million tax credit designed to benefit private foundations,
while the General Appropriations bill only provides an additional
$8 million in basic and special
education funding for our public schools, which is clearly not
adequate funding to ensure Pennsylvanians have schools that teach
our students."
The Governor signed the following bills:
- Senate Bill 812 makes appropriations from the Professional
Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts
to be used by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
during 2015-16 in support of the professional licensing
boards.
- Senate Bill 813 makes an appropriation from the Workmen's
Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and
Industry for the expenses of administering the Workers Compensation
Act and the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act for 2015-16
- Senate Bill 814 makes an appropriation from a restricted
revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small
Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic
Development for 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 815 makes an appropriation from a restricted
revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer
Advocate in the Office of the Attorney General for 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 816 makes an appropriation from the Public School
Employees' Retirement Fund for the expenses of the Public School
Employees' Retirement Board for 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 817 makes an appropriation from the State
Employees' Retirement Fund to the State Employees' Retirement Board
for 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 818 makes appropriations from the Philadelphia
Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund and the Philadelphia Taxicab
Medallion Fund to the Philadelphia Parking Authority for fiscal
year 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 819 makes appropriations from a restricted revenue
account within the General Fund and federal augmentation funds to
the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for 2015-16.
- Senate Bill 820 makes appropriations from restricted revenue
accounts within the State Gaming Fund and from the State Gaming
Fund to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the Department of
Revenue, the Pennsylvania State
Police and the Attorney General for 2015-16.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff
Sheridan – 717-772-9042
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SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor