At meetings this week between Gov. Wolf and Republicans Leaders, participants said they had a “good conversation” about pensions and education funding to the point of saying the issues would be addressed in the final budget agreement, according to House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana).

Of course, you could have said the same thing in March when the Governor presented his budget.  And, no word on who paid for the pizza during the budget meetings this week.

Meanwhile Gov. Wolf and his surrogates continued to crisscross the state urging support for the natural gas severance tax to increase education funding and the Governor’s other budget proposals.

Gov. Wolf did present what he said was a new pension proposal Friday, but otherwise he has not softened his tone one bit this week.  He called the Republican-passed budget a “disgrace” and a “sham” in Norristown on Tuesday.  Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), Minority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Thursday there would be no budget deal without a severance tax to fund education.

As the impasse drags on, college students waiting for $420 million in state aid will have to wait a little longer, state vendors still aren’t getting paid and nonprofit organizations providing social and other services on behalf of the state have to find some way to make ends meet.

Moving on to week seven…..

NewsClips:

Amorphous Progress Reported By Budget Negotiators

Wolf, GOP Still Talking About PA Budget

Budget Negotiations Forge Ahead On Pension, School Funding

No Budget Deal In Sight Going Into The Dog Days Of Summer

Sen. Hughes: No Budget Without Severance Tax For Schools

Wolf Floats Pension Proposal With $17B Debt Reduction Claims

8/17/2015