Report: Wolf Claims GOP Budget Would Cut 1,500 State Jobs
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Gov. Tom Wolf warned yesterday that the House-approved GOP budget would eliminate 1,500 more state jobs than his own proposed budget.
According to the Associated Press, the Wolf administration claims that the GOP budget would cut the state’s authorized workforce from 81,000 people (per the current budget) to about 76,500 people for the fiscal year starting in July. The Department of Corrections would reportedly see the largest loss in jobs – 650 workers – followed by the Department of Heath and Human Services – 400 workers.
It’s important to note that either way, cuts are likely imminent – Wolf’s own $32.3 billion budget, proposed in February, would lower the authorized workforce to about 78,000 people.
The GOP budget, which calls for $31.5 billion in spending in the fiscal year beginning July 1st, passed the House last week in a 114-84 vote. Not a single Democrat approved the legislation.
Rep. Joe Markosek of Allegheny County, a high-ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said the GOP budget “cuts to the bone that many of us agree was already bare,” according to Philly.com.
The GOP budget bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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