Wagner: Governor's veto shows he will not tolerate politics as usual and wants to ensure that most important function of state government – setting the budget – works for Pennsylvanians who need education investment and property tax reform
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner praised Governor Wolf’s leadership in exercising a full veto of the state budget. As Allegheny County’s Chief Fiscal Officer and the only local official having served in the state legislature (2006-2012; elected three terms), Wagner noted the unprecedented nature of a full veto, as opposed to the line-item veto of recent governors, and applauded Governor Wolf for demonstrating unabashed leadership on issues of education, property tax and pensions.
“Governor Wolf’s full veto is a testament to his political courage and leadership. It makes me proud to be a Pennsylvanian. Budgets are priorities and Governor Wolf, especially with his veto today, demonstrated that he is undaunted in his commitment to deliver on education investment and property tax relief for Pennsylvanians. I am both grateful and inspired by Governor Wolf’s steadfast commitment to delivering on the most pressing issues and his rejection of the gimmicks that have plagued state government for decades. Pennsylvania deserves this sort of leadership and a budget that serves them, not special interests.”
“Every resident in Allegheny County worries about education and property taxes – some of us think about both issues on a daily basis. The fact that we now have a governor who has upheld his commitment to fight for Pennsylvanians and to stop the gimmicks of prior budgets signifies a very positive shift for Pennsylvania taxpayers.”
Wagner noted that she had spoken to Governor Wolf last week and indicated her admiration of his leadership on the state budget. Wagner served as a State Legislator under both Democrat (Rendell) and Republican (Corbett) Governors, and was both in the majority and minority parties during her tenure in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Her tenure included the infamous 100-day budget impasse of 2009.
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