This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
The top House Republican says he’ll try to override the governor’s budget veto if negotiations don’t starting yielding consensus.
"We have to look at overriding if we’re not going to have a substantive discussion," said House Speaker Mike Turzai during his appearance Monday at the Harrisburg Press Club luncheon.
Turzai said an override should be the "goal" of the GOP-controlled legislature, though he’s not sure whether such a move would have the votes to pass.
"I haven’t even asked anybody in terms of a count," said Turzai. "I ask, what’s their perspective on the governor’s budget proposal, and what was their perspective on our proposal?"
It is rare for the legislature to successfully override a governor’s veto. It requires a two-thirds majority vote, so both the House and Senate would need to pick up Democratic support.