Gov. Tom Wolf approved $90 million in bonds to help counties buy new voting machines Tuesday. This decision came days after he vetoed Senate Bill 48, which called for the funding along with some election reforms.
 
Introduced by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia), the bill would have ended the option of the “straight party ticket” vote and the state’s closed primary elections. Pennsylvania remains one of seven states that allow voters to cast a whole ballot by pushing one button.

Gov. Tom Wolf and State Treasurer Joe Torsella on Tuesday cheered a $317 million deposit in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, although they cautioned that more work needs to be done in order to better secure the state’s fiscal future.

Lawmakers elected to plow most of the state’s budget surplus into its cash reserves, which started the year ranked among the worst in the country. The decision was one of bipartisan agreement between Republican leaders and Wolf, although more than half of the surplus will be devoted to paying off pieces of last year’s budget.

Just days after he vetoed a bill offering $90 million to help counties pay for new voting machines, Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday announced that his administration will be providing that same amount to counties through a state-issued bond.

The move from Wolf comes after the Democratic governor vetoed Senate Bill 48, legislation that would have amended the Election Code to give the General Assembly more oversight over the decertification of voting machines.

Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon) plans to introduce House Bill 13 later this summer, which calls for a total elimination of the school property tax within two years. 

While a lot of bills eliminating property tax have been introduced in the past and have not gone anywhere, Rep. Ryan is confident his will move because of the support he has received and the amount of people he feels it will benefit. 

Check out his full sit-down interview for more information.