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LUZERNE — State Rep. Aaron Kaufer Wednesday said it was time to “tell the truth” about what’s going on in Harrisburg with budget negotiations.

Kaufer, R-Kingston, held a news conference in front of his district office in Luzerne. He said it was time for “meaningful talks and compromise” to resolve the budget impasse that is now in its fifth week.

“I’m sick of the partisan rhetoric,” Kaufer said with House Majority Whip Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, at his side. “The campaign is over, but this is like wash, rinse and repeat.”

The state’s 2014-15 fiscal year ended June 30. Despite the lack of a new spending plan, state public services have been maintained.

But Cutler and Kaufer said they are concerned that the longer the budget impasse continues, the sooner the adverse effects will arrive. They expressed deep concern for agencies like Victims Resource Centers and Rape Crisis Centers that could lose their funding streams by Aug. 15, forcing them to shut down until a budget deal is struck.

Kaufer was quick to note that Wolf has been traveling the state “hitting Republicans every chance he can” regarding the GOP’s reluctance to negotiate and compromise to resolve the impasse.

“Remember, Gov. Wolf’s budget received zero votes in the House,” Kaufer said. “No Republicans and no Democrats voted for it.”

Wolf vetoed the Republican proposed $30.2 billion budget, countering with his $30 billion plan, which includes a severance tax on the natural gas industry and hikes in the state income and sales taxes, while lowering property taxes.

“We want property tax elimination, not relief,” Kaufer said. “It’s time to focus.”

Kaufer criticized Wolf for using mailings and TV ads to distort the facts.

“That is counter-productive,” Kaufer said of the tactic.

Pension issues

Kaufer said the state pension system needs a major overhaul.

“We can’t continue to kick that can down the street,” he said. “It’s time to get something done so Pennsylvania can move in a direction of growth and prosperity.”

Cutler said the good news is that budget talks are ongoing, but he said the governor’s budget proposal “has had its day.” He said the Republicans presented a budget on time that included 68 percent of the items Wolf was seeking. He said Wolf should not have vetoed the entire budget; rather he should have went line by line.

Cutler said one option for the legislature is to override Wolf’s budget veto. He said an override requires two-thirds majority in the House. Assuming all Republicans voted for the override, Cutler said 15 to 17 Democrats would also have to vote for it. In the Senate, Cutler said with all Republicans voting in favor, three or four Democrats would have to join them.

Cutler said Wolf’s proposal to enact a severance tax on the natural gas industry needs to be put in the “proper context.” He said the state already has an impact fee that brings in about $220 million to the state. He said states like Texas that have a severance tax, do not have personal income taxes and they have lower property taxes.

Wolf responds

Jeffrey Sheridan, Wolf’s press secretary, said if the governor had accepted the Republican budget supported by Cutler and Kaufer, “the entire commonwealth would be worse off.” Sheridan said human services agencies would be suffer because the Republican proposal continues to under fund them.

“Our children would be worse off because the Republicans did not provide adequate education funding, middle-class families and seniors would be worse off because the Republicans did not include property tax relief, and the commonwealth’s credit rating would be worse off because the Republican budget does not fix the deficit — in fact, it adds to the deficit,” Sheridan said.

“Republican leaders have given us multi-billion dollar deficits, struggling schools, and rising property taxes. It is time for Republican leaders like Rep. Cutler to stop ignoring math and to stop pretending that their same gimmicks, irresponsibility, and deficits will help move the commonwealth forward.”

Sheridan said Wolf will continue trying to work with the Republican majority to close the deficit, fund schools through a “common sense” severance tax and provide property tax relief to Pennsylvania families.

Sheridan said the GOP budget is detrimental to human services and is “unbalanced” and would lead to a larger budget deficit.

“It also continues to protect oil and gas companies instead of our children and our schools by not including a common sense severance tax,” he said.

Regarding human services, Sheridan said the Republican budget shifts $172 million worth of payments to counties for services for abused and neglected children into the next fiscal year, which he said creates further budgeting issues for counties and exacerbates the structural deficit.

Sheridan said Pennsylvania is the only gas-producing state without a severance tax.

“Republicans have protected handouts to oil and gas companies,” he said. “As a result, schools across Pennsylvania are suffering and the Republicans’ failed policies have also led to a massive deficit, credit downgrades, and soaring property taxes. It’s time for them to wake up and realize the mess they’ve created.”

House Majority Whip Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, held a news conference Wednesday in Luzerne to talk about the current budget stalemate.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_TTL073015KauferBudget.jpg.optimal.jpgHouse Majority Whip Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, held a news conference Wednesday in Luzerne to talk about the current budget stalemate. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader

By Bill O’Boyle

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.