DRUMS —Even when Gov. Tom Wolf made a stop at an Internet-based company in Drums as part of his “Jobs That Pay” tour, he couldn’t avoid questions about the state’s budget.
During the governor’s visit to Web.com, a reporter asked if he had a message for citizens concerning the budget. Wolf said Democrats and Republicans have worked together on the budget, and ended up with a compromise and a bipartisan effort.
In November, Wolf and House and Senate leaders agreed to a budget deal that revolved around a 6 percent spending increase and a $1 billion-plus tax increase. But House Republicans revolted against the size of the tax and spending bills.
Democrats and moderate Republicans upended House GOP majority leaders on Dec. 22, winning a series of close votes that signaled a potential breakthrough in Pennsylvania’s six-month-old budget stalemate.
“I think you need to talk to some of the leaders in the Republican side of the House to find out exactly what happened here,” Wolf said. “We had, I think, what would have been a historic, and maybe still will be, a historic budget for Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania GOP, however, fired a shot of its own in an email Friday.
“Governor Tom Wolf’s reckless veto of critical funds for our schools and social services last June forced thousands of Pennsylvanians to fear for their jobs,” said Megan Sweeney, communications director for PA GOP. “If Tom Wolf was truly committed to creating jobs in Pennsylvania, he’d join with Republicans in finalizing a state budget that puts the needs of citizens above special interests.”
Wolf’s tour
Wolf’s visit came over a week after Web.com announced it will bring more than 70 jobs to the region as part of a major reshoring and expansion. The move will create 74 new jobs at the company’s Drums location, bringing the total number of workers at the facility to about 350.
“We want these jobs to be here in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. He added the idea of bringing jobs back to the commonwealth is a growing trend.
“What I think people have found … anybody who’s looking to go overseas at this point because of labor rates is missing a real bet,” Wolf said.
Wolf was given a brief presentation about the company by Jeff Kimmel, vice president of customer service for Web.com. He was then given a tour of the facility where he met several employees in the facility’s call center.
During Kimmel’s presentation, he explained jobs are currently based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The company conducted an analysis to determine where those jobs would relocate.
Wolf stressed the importance of a partnership between the state and the private sector to make the reshoring happen.
Web.com received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development that includes $148,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits, a $40,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant and $25,650 in WEDnetPA funding for employee training.
Rep. Tarah Toohil was among those in attendance during the governor’s tour. She said she was “extremely excited” about jobs coming back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially after a time when so many had been sent overseas.
She added that, despite the state’s budget difficulties, the fact that jobs are returning to Pennsylvania and the local region is a point of optimism.
“For Pennsylvania to be moving forward in this way is really important, so it’s something we want to see more of,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Travis Kellar
Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews
Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews
