Pa. Waits for Wolf Budget Decision

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaks with members of the media Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.

Gov. Tom Wolf could decide today whether to end the state’s months-old budget impasse — or whether to extend it into the New Year, AP reports.

Before Christmas Break began, the Pennsylvania House and Senate both passed a budget that resumes funding to schools, social service agencies and other state-funded efforts: Philly schools have said they might close after Jan. 29 if funding comes through. But the budget falls short of Wolf’s desired increase in education funding, and about $500 million short of his expectations overall. He called the bill “deeply disappointing” — the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has asked him to reject it — but notably didn’t promise to veto.

“Change is difficult, and clearly more so given this legislature, but we must continue our fight for historic education funding that will begin to restore the cuts from five years ago, and a budget that is balanced, paid for, and fixes our deficit,” he said last week.

Wolf’s choices: Sign the bill into law; let it become law without his signature; use his line-item veto pen to eliminate some of its spending provisions; or veto it outright.