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Governor-Elect Wolf Says State Has $2 Billion Deficit

KINGSTON — In a month, Democrat Tom Wolf will be sworn into office as the next Governor of Pennsylvania. Before he does that, he’s traveling across ...
tom wolf

KINGSTON -- In a month, Democrat Tom Wolf will be sworn into office as the next Governor of Pennsylvania.

Before he does that, he's traveling across the commonwealth to give a message that the state's finances are a mess.

We met with him in Luzerne County. He wouldn't give us any proposals to fix the problem but says there's a budget deficit of around $2 billion.

The celebration from his win last month appears to be over. Governor-elect Tom Wolf says his victory means he now must now deal with Pennsylvania's financial woes.

"It's not something that's going to go away with growth. It's not something that's going to magically disappear. It's going to require some heavy lifting," Wolf said.

At a stop at the Hoyt Library in Kingston, Wolf pointed to an estimated $2 billion deficit in the next budget year.

He said the budget has been plugged with money that's available one year, maybe not the next, but he's not ready to talk about a plan to fix the problem.

"My point right now is to not talk about solutions, but talk about that we have a problem, that's the first step in the process of getting to a much better place for Pennsylvania."

A so-called severance tax on the natural gas industry is one thing Wolf says he will try to convince the state legislature to enact, but he said even that's not enough. He's looking for other options under the capitol dome.

"The severance tax is part of the solution. My only comment is that it's not the only, it doesn't fill that whole $2 billion gap."

But Wolf was very clear about natural gas drilling and fracking. He's not against it. He does not agree with New York state's decision Wednesday to ban fracking.

"I don't want to do what New York did. I want to do what I think we can do here in Pennsylvania, that is, have this industry and do it right, that is from an environmental point of view and a health point of view."

He wants drilling and fracking regulated and taxed.

"I think this could be a really great thing for Pennsylvania's economy. It could create great jobs, so I want to have my cake and eat it, too."

Wolf has also been facing questions about Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

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