Continuing Coverage Entry: PA Budget Impasse

 

Pennsylvania’s state budget stalemate has lasted seven months and counting.

The gridlock has broken the state’s modern-day record for longest impasse.

The new Democratic governor and new leaders of the solidly Republican Legislature eagerly claimed a strong mandate and charged into negotiations with their own priorities held high.

The policy debate has centered on taxes, pensions, and Prohibition-era liquor laws.

But people stuck in the middle see mostly hardened ideologies and government ineptitude.

This entry contains several complete stories and excerpts of WITF’s coverage

Preview of Governor Tom Wolf’s first budget address — Mary Wilson

Reax from Governor Tom Wolf’s budget address — Mary Wilson and Marie Cusick

Meet the Legislature’s new GOP majority leaders — Mary Wilson

Smart Talk, Feb. 2015 with Gov. Tom Wolf — Scott LaMar

Governor Wolf vetoes GOP-crafted budget on eve of deadline — Mary Wilson

Smart Talk with Senate GOP President Pro Tem Scarnati — Scott LaMar

Stalled negotiations — Mary Wilson

On ripple effects to pension analysis — Emily Previti

With state workers being paid, no pressure to make deal — Mary Wilson

Feature: A look back at Pennsylvania’s 1991 budget impasse — Mary Wilson

Smart Talk, October 2015, schools struggle without a budget — Scott LaMar

Domestic violence shelter on the brink due to impasse — Mary Wilson

Impact Juniata County Food Pantry in Juniata County — Audio post card (produced by Ben Allen)

Nonprofit that serves some of the most vulnerable will temporarily close due to the budget crisis — Ben Allen

Smart Talk, Dec. 2015, with Gov. Tom Wolf — Scott LaMar

Dauphin County commissioners criticize budget impasse — Ben Allen

Wolf, lawmakers reach a tentative deal — Mary Wilson

Lawmakers skip swanky event during impasse — Mary Wilson

Tentative deal collapses — Mary Wilson

Governor uses line-item veto on GOP-crafted budget — Marie Cusick