Candidate Gerlach On Budget Impasse

A Republican candidate for governor blames both parties for Pennsylvania’s months-long budget stalemate. Congressman Jim Gerlach, who served in the state House and Senate in the 90s, says he’d support a measure docking legislative pay if a budget isn’t passed by the July 1 deadline.

"You know there’s a reason why we’re the last state to have a budget. Because there hasn’t been the level of negotiation and conclusion of negotiation that allows everyone to move forward. And it seems to me, then, that there ought to be some financial penalty attached to that to try and stimulate that closure to the process. "

But Gerlach didn't mention whether he supports docking the pay of the governor and administration officials if the budget deadline is not met.,
Speaking to reporters at the state Capitol, Gerlach also repeated a call for Attorney General Tom Corbett to remove himself from the ongoing “Bonusgate” investigation.
Gerlach says he doesn’t think it’s appropriate for a candidate to lobby lawmakers for support, while simultaneously looking into legislative abuses.
Corbett has insisted there’s no conflict of interest in his investigation and exploratory campaign. Corbett didn’t accept contributions from lawmakers during his 2008 reelection campaign, and is maintaining that policy this year.