Once again this week Senate and House Republicans and Gov. Wolf failed to go beyond posturing to make any progress on the budget, almost literally going to opposite ends of the state to say the same things they have been saying for the last 111 days.

Senate and House Republicans Tuesday met with their Democratic counterparts in the Legislature, and without the Governor (although Gov. Wolf said his staff was there), to see if they could make progress on the budget.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) told reporters after the meeting there was general consensus a Personal Income Tax increase will not be part of the final budget plan, but quickly said he didn’t speak for the Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said, “We’re trying to get to a place where we have a budget in place and that’s going to require a lot of conversations, a lot of discussions about revenue packages because we know we need to have a conversation about revenues as we go forward.”

Gov. Wolf said in a radio interview the same day he will not back down from trying to put Pennsylvania on a firm financial footing and fixing the deficit.   “I think there’s a dawning awareness that I’m not going to cave on this,” he said. “I can’t cave on this.”

Wolf went to Washington County, south of Pittsburgh, Wednesday trying to drum up support for his budget.

Coincidentally, he lost Western Pennsylvania Democrats in the House vote on his revised tax package last week.  Both House Minority Leader Frank Dermody and House Minority Appropriations Chair Joe Markosek are also from Allegheny County.

"It is time for Republican leaders to put forward a serious proposal - for the first time - that will balance our budget, fund our schools, provide property tax relief and get Pennsylvania back on track," said Gov. Wolf. "The realities of Pennsylvania's budget deficit and education funding crisis have not changed, but Republicans still refuse to take on the status quo. We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results."

Gov. Wolf’s press secretary Jeff Sheridan released a statement Thursday outlining what will happen if “Republican leaders in Harrisburg keep doing the same things, but expecting different results”—

-- Cut of at least $1 billion from K through 12 education next year;

-- Cut of at least $1 billion from human services programs next year;

-- Ratings agencies will downgrade Pennsylvania’s credit rating to junk status (In fact, Moody's Investors Service Friday affirmed the Aa3 rating on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's General Obligation debt, but revised the outlook to negative.);

-- Local property taxes will increase even higher than they are now; and

-- Tuition rates at Pennsylvania colleges and universities will increase.

At a press conference Friday with Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) in Harrisburg, Gov. Wolf said he’s waiting for a real, balanced budget proposal from House and Senate Republicans.  He said this is a negotiation.  “I suggested a plan last week, the House voted it down, now it’s up to them to make a proposal.”

It seems like everyone is doing the same thing… and expecting different results.

We thought Groundhog Day was just a movie.

Meanwhile, state agencies are starting work on their FY 2016-17 state budget requests and the Senate and House return to voting session October 19, 20 and 21.

NewsClips:

Wolf Makes Pitch For Budget That Breaks Status Quo

PA Gets Lower Credit Outlook Amid Budget Fight

State Budget Talks Resume Among Senate, House Staff, Quietly

Wolf: His Concessions Not Enough For GOP Rivals

PLS: Corman: Personal Income Tax Not Part Of Final Budget

Wolf Says He Won’t Cave On Demand To Fix State’s Deficit

Wolf: I Can’t Cave In Budget Fight

Out-Of-State Travel Continues Despite Budget Impasse

Gas Royalty Safeguards Advance In Budget Talks

Royalty Issue Comes To Surface In Budget Battle

Analysis: Stuck In Campaign Mode, Wolf Making It Harder

Op-Ed: Severance Tax Least Of Drillers’ Worries

Op-Ed: Wolf’s $1 Billion Natural Gas Myth, Rep. Mentzer

10/19/2015