House speaker links liquor overhaul to new taxes for budget
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican speaker of the Pennsylvania House says his members won’t vote for any sort of tax increase without privatization of the state liquor system, and that lawmakers may eventually override the Democratic governor’s vetoes.
Speaker Mike Turzai said a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon Monday that recent budget talks have amounted to “constructive dialogue” but negotiations have been around the edges rather than at the heart of their disputes.
Pennsylvania is about four weeks into the new fiscal year with talks at a stalemate. Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the budget, liquor privatization and pension cuts that were passed by Republicans without a single Democratic lawmaker’s vote.
Wolf wants billions to close a budget deficit and spend more on education and human services. The Republican-passed budget didn’t include a tax increase.