Compromise needed
One note of realism that Gov. Tom Wolf has sounded lately is his recognition that there may not be a budget for the new fiscal year in place by the Constitutionally-mandated deadline of June 30.
If he is prepared to stick to his guns in the revolutionary agenda he has proposed, there may never be a budget.
Our leader has flatly stated that he will veto any proposal to join the rest of the civilized world in privatizing the sale of alcoholic beverages despite the will of the people. It has been reported that his budget is a “take it or leave it” proposition, an initiative which is not to be subject to amendment despite the large majorities held in the General Assembly by those who do not agree with him.
What Mr. Wolf should be saying is, “I do not purport to have offered the perfect plan for the Commonwealth. I have provided an outline of what I would like to see as a staring point. I am open to suggestions for change which will enable me to satisfy my objectives while taking into account that which is important to my opponents on the opposite side of the aisle. I will not rule anything out; everything is on the table. While I want to work with Republicans to move the Commonwealth forward, I will not be doctrinaire.”
Compromise will be the name of the game in a state government which is split down the middle. The individual who is unwilling to compromise will come away with nothing and the residents will lose. If Tom Wolf’s plan is to stifle, dominate, and trample the state GOP, he is likely to be looking forward to retirement after one term on Jan. 20, 2019.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair