Governor in town to talk schools funding

WTXF - Gov. Tom Wolf visited Philadelphia Thursday to talk about the importance of education and the need for more funding- the ongoing budget impasse notwithstanding.

Governor Wolf joined Mayor Kenney and other elected officials to tour the Caring People Alliance at the West Philadelphia Community Center.

The governor was here to tout his plans for increased spending on early childhood education -plans he'll formally unveil at next Tuesday's budget address in Harrisburg.

The broad theme, next week and here: the importance of education at all levels.

"We need to make sure that from pre-K up through higher education, we make education affordable, accessible and relevant to the needs of all of our fellow, future citizens," the governor said.

Wolf will ask the legislature for an extra $200 million for K-thru-12 funding.

But he's still searching for $377 million in extra money in the current budget, still stalled in the Republican-controlled state House.

The GOP wants spending cuts and pension reform.

Wolf insists tax hikes are part of the plan.

Philadelphia school officials can't guarantee to keep classrooms running through the end of the year, without the rest of this year's state funding.

Local Democrats are blaming the House GOP.

"They have abandoned their responsibility, and, in fact, from my vantage point, have violated their oath-- their oath of office."

But the longest Pennsylvania budget impasse ever, has voters in the latest Franklin and Marshall poll saying a pox on both your houses-- job approval ratings, terrible for the legislature AND the governor.

Wolf's response, when I asked about those angry voters...

"I don't care about polls. I care about what's the right thing to do."