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WILKES-BARRE — As far as the public is concerned, it’s business as usual for state operations — for now.
Jeff Sheridan, Gov. Tom Wolf’s press secretary, said Thursday “government does not shut down” and state services will operate as usual for the time being, despite the 2015-16 budget impasse.
The fiscal year ended June 30 without the Republican legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, agreeing on a spending plan for the next year. Wolf has proposed a $33.8 billion spending plan that includes higher personal income tax and sales tax and a 5 percent severance tax on the natural gas industry.
Republicans have approved a $30.1 billion budget with no new taxes that the governor vetoed.
“The governor’s veto does not mean there is a shutdown. There will be little disruption,” Sheridan said. “The only impact the impasse could have now is on vendors, contractors, and grantees. State employees will continue to work and they will be paid, per a 2009 court decision.”
Christopher Craig, chief counsel for the State Treasurer’s Office, said people should not “be terribly panicked or concerned.”
Sheridan said state parks will remain open, and public benefits like unemployment compensation, food stamps and medical assistance will continue to be disbursed. Craig said anything related to public health, safety and welfare will continue.
The State Office of the Budget prepared answers to frequently ask questions regarding the budget impasse. It said state-operated facilities, such as state parks, county assistance offices, prisons, youth development facilities and PennDOT locations will continue.
Payments that can be made in a budget impasse include:
• Public benefit programs administered by the state, including unemployment compensation, cash assistance and support for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
• Health care services paid for through Medical Assistance, for hospitals, other healthcare providers and and nursing homes, and transportation to medical appointments through the Medical Assistance Transportation Program.
• Child care subsidy payments.
• Home and community based services, including attendant care, for seniors and people with disabilities.
• Prescription drug coverage under the PACE program.
• Pension programs for Blind and Paralyzed Veterans.
• Medicare Part A and B premium payments.
• Early intervention, autism and intellectual disability services.
• State Workers’ Insurance Fund payments.
• Commonwealth employee payroll, including pension contributions.
Other services
Public education funding payments will not be processed because those funds must be appropriated by the General Assembly. Payments will not be processed until a budget is approved for FY 2015-16.
Highway construction projects can proceed for all work and payments funded from prior year appropriations. Examples of programs with available prior year funding include: maintenance, construction, welcome centers, re-investment in facilities, aviation operations and safety administration.
The Republicans maintain they fulfilled the legal mandate to pass a budget by June 3o. In an emailed release, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Communications Director Megan Sweeney said the GOP budget is balanced, increases investment in education and does not raise a single tax on Pennsylvanians.
“Gov. Wolf can use all of the rhetoric in the world to try to scare Pennsylvanians, but it won’t change the fact he single-handedly shut down the government over his support for tax hikes,” Sweeney said. “It’s time for Tom Wolf to put away the campaign rhetoric and work with Republicans to start governing.”