CITY HALL SAM: Tom Wolf’s Budget Offers Hope

City Hall Sam is starting off the column with a salute to SHERIFF JEWELL WILLIAMS. Sheriff Williams is receiving a well-deserved Public Servant Of  The Year award from the Public Record. Sheriff Williams has an extensive and admirable career serving the public as a law enforcement officer, State Representative, and now as Sheriff.  His great personality and get-things-done work ethic have helped to transform the Sheriff’s Office into a well-oiled machine.  Changing a department and changing the culture is never easy. But Jewell Williams makes it looks easy. Congratulations, Mr. Sheriff!

“If we come together with a sense of shared purpose, we can build the better future Pennsylvania deserves. Now, let’s get started.” – Governor Tom Wolf

Speaking of people that are looking to change the culture, GOV. TOM WOLF gave his blockbuster budget address this week. Although skepticism and criticism abounded, there were also hope and accolades. Wolf seeks to invest heavily in education while raising new revenues and cutting property taxes by 50% for the average Pennsylvania homeowner and cutting the corporate net income tax by 50%. The Guv claims it will yield a net 13% decrease for the average Pennsylvanian.

STATE SENS. VINCE HUGHES and ANTHONY WILLIAMS loved it. If Williams becomes Mayor, he will need the money for Philly schools. If Hughes runs for US Senate, he can claim that as Appropriations Committee Chair, he helped save the kids.

Another rumored US Senate candidate, JOSH SHAPIRO, is polling, fundraising, plotting and planning. He’s apparently planning something big, but not US Senate for now. He may want to become State Attorney General. Would he run against KATHLEEN KANE or wait for her resignation? Some insiders think Kane is stabilizing. She’s still under siege but she appears to have toughened up. People always root for the underdog. She appeared to be engaged in warm conversation with FRANCES WOLF and TONYA STACK during Gov. Wolf’s budget address.

JOE SESTAK announced he is running for US Senate again, and he is kicking, rather walking it off in style – with a 422-mile walk across Pennsylvania. He appears to be up for this physical challenge as he is at his fighting weight of about 140 lb. soaking wet. He also has a national fundraising base, which is baffling to many insiders. Joe was a good Congressman but what exactly does he do? And we wouldn’t have CONGRESSMAN PAT MEEHAN if Sestak had stayed in place and let ARLEN SPECTER win.

Right now, US SEN. PAT TOOMEY looks sufficiently moderate in a hybrid conservative state. Toomey has got to be the hands-on favorite no matter who is the Democratic opponent. And Democrats may have to answer for massive tax increases brought on by the Democratic Governor. However, the key to the Democrats’ chances will be how the budget and tax increases are sold. If they stick to their campaign themes of improving schools, helping students, cutting property taxes and taxing natural-gas extractions, they may be able to withstand any criticism.

Other candidates mentioned for US Senate include Philly DA SETH WILLIAMS, who is suing Wolf over the death-penalty moratorium, and LT. GOV. MIKE STACK, who some said photobombed Gov, Wolf during the budget address. But why would Stack want to give up the best gig in Keystone State politics?

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