By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf’s eighth and final budget proposal would push state spending well past $43 billion for the first time, as the Democrat asks lawmakers for the biggest-ever increase in aid for public schools, plus more money for direct care workers, higher-education institutions and college scholarships. Wolf delivered the $43.7 billion proposal to lawmakers Tuesday before he was to address them in a joint session of the House and Senate. An economy juiced with federal pandemic subsidies is expected to deliver a multibillion-dollar surplus. Given the state’s big cash cushion, Wolf is proposing no change to state income or sales taxes.