Governor Tom Wolf said this afternoon he will allow an appropriations bill to complete this year’s state budget to become law without his signature. The Democratic governor said he does not believe the final budget is in balance, and so will not sign his name to it. But he said he will allow it to become law so the state can “move on to face the budget challenges” of next year. This means that schools will stay open through the end of the year. But he says that unless Harrisburg changes its ways, they won’t have adequate funds for next year. The budget bill will become law Monday, after Wolf does not act on it Sunday.

The Supreme Court today hears arguments in a challenge from faith-based groups – including Bishop David Zubik and a group of nuns in Pittsburgh – objecting to the Obama administration’s mandate to ensure their employees and students get cost-free birth control. Today’s arguments come on the sixth anniversary of the federal health care overhaul.

Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik will represent the Pittsburgh Diocese to the U.S. Supreme Court this Wednesday in the case challenging the Affordable Care Act. This case calls into question the government’s right to mandate contraceptive coverage in the health care plans of religiously-affiliated organizations. Bishop Zubik argues that this would infringe on religious freedom, while the Obama administration says that it has given religious organizations an easy way to opt out of these regulations. Geneva College in Beaver Falls is involved in a similar case, as are 5 other organizations throughout the country.

Governor Tom Wolf still won’t say how he’ll respond to a GOP spending package he has blasted as being well out of balance. As the budget stalemate drags on , Wolf yesterday got pressure from some of his own party’s lawmakers to back off his veto threats and at least approve enough aid to keep schools open.