Governor Wolf Presents Legislation to Enact His Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Yesterday Governor Tom Wolf presented a package of legislation to enact his budget proposal that makes historic investments in education while taking concrete steps toward rebuilding the middle class.

Gov. Wolf’s budget restores cuts to basic education with a four-year commitment to increase funding by $2 billion while cutting property taxes paid by the average homeowner by 50 percent and reducing the total tax burden on average, middle-class families. Gov. Wolf’s budget also helps grow jobs in Pennsylvania by cutting the corporate net income tax by 50 percent and making strategic investments in job creation through programs like the Made in Pennsylvania manufacturing tax credit.

In order to ensure that we are adequately funding education at all levels, the legislation includes a severance tax on natural gas that will raise new revenue so we can reinvest in classrooms and provide the resources for students to succeed at higher levels. Pennsylvania is the only major gas-producing state that does not tax oil and natural gas extraction – we’re failing to do so at a time when schools across the commonwealth are struggling.

“Last week, I outlined my gimmick-free budget, and today, I am presenting legislation that corresponds with the vision I laid out,” said Governor Wolf. “My budget rebuilds the middle class in Pennsylvania starting with three priorities: jobs that pay, schools that teach, and government that works. My plan balances the state budget, cuts taxes to create jobs with good middle-class wages, makes historic investments in education to prepare our kids for the jobs of tomorrow, and reduces the total tax burden on the average middle-class homeowner by incorporating many Republican and Democratic ideas to move Pennsylvania forward.”

Legislation Presented Includes:

Part I: General Budget Enabling Legislation

1. General Appropriation Act

Part II: Major Policy Initiatives

2. Property Tax Relief

3. Pension Reform

4. Manufacturing Tax Credit

5. Online Home Health Care Worker Registry

6. Pay for Success

Part III: Public School Code

7. Omnibus Legislation Enacting Major Basic Education and Special Education Funding Provisions, Accountability, Cyber Charter Reform and Other Proposals

8. Career and Technical Education Investment and Innovation Act

Part IV: Tax Reform Code

9. Education Reinvestment Act

10. Omnibus Legislation Enacting Tax Provisions to Implement the FY2015-16 Executive Budget

Part V: Additional Budget Bills

Non-Preferred Appropriations

11. Pennsylvania State University

12. University of Pittsburgh

13. Temple University

14. Lincoln University

15. University of Pennsylvania

Other Enabling Legislation

16. Capital Debt Legislation

17. Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs

18. Workers’ Compensation

19. Office of Small Business Advocate

20. Office of Consumer Advocate

21. Public School Employees Retirement Board

22. State Employees Retirement Board

23. Philadelphia Parking Authority

24. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

25. Gaming Control Appropriation Act