Wolf’s 2017-18 Budget Ushers in Reinvention of Government
Plan increases education funding, cuts billions in expenses, no broad-based tax increase
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – Gov. Tom Wolf presented his budget plan for Fiscal Year 2017-18 that calls for an increase in education funding, cuts of $2 billion in government expenses and no broad-based tax increase, state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today.
Costa, Hughes Support Budget Becoming Law; New Funds for Education, Opioid Treatment
Senate Democrats Call for More Funding for Human Relations Commission
New, Tough Campaign Finance Law Needed to Thwart Outside Money Influence
Op-ed by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa
On the ballot this year are three critical seats on the state Supreme Court, one seat each on the Superior and Commonwealth courts as well as county row offices and municipal posts which influence how citizens are judged or represented. These races are of statewide interest and local importance.
Despite the parochial nature of most municipal elections, there is a great likelihood that the election of state Supreme Court justices, Superior and Commonwealth Court judges and the contests for down-ballot offices this year will attract millions of dollars from outside interest groups and well-heeled out-of-state contributors. These “investors” believe that they can influence state policy with their checkbooks. Much of that funding will be either unreported or under-reported.