July 13, 2009, 4:39 pm
House Approp met this afternoon to consider three bills, two of which are budget bills. HB 975 was quickly reported as committed.
HB 1416, which contains the governor’s initial budget proposal, was reported with an amendment offered by Chairman Evans, with the Republicans voting against the amendment and the bill. The amendment funds the General Fund without tax increases, but creates a separate Higher Education Fund to fund higher education with tax increases (to be determined) amounting to $1.2 billion. Provides for a $300 million increase in education; no Smart Pharmacy; funds agriculture; libraries are funded better than has been discussed; includes $500 million in cuts over the February budget; and makes many other changes. The amendment will be posted on PLS shortly.
SB 850, the Senate GOP budget, was reported as committed via voice vote with a negative recommendation, with all members supporting the negative recommendation.
The complete story will be available in the Capitol Toolbox later this evening.
July 13, 2009, 3:50 pm
Mark your calendars: July 26, not July 17, is the new drop-dead date for budget negotiations.
Governor Ed Rendell said Monday that if he and the General Assembly don’t resolve their budget stalemate by July 26th, about 33,000 state workers will not receive a paycheck of any kind on July 31.
Lawmakers and the governor have previously pointed to July 17 as the date when state workers wouldn’t receive their first paycheck because of stalled budget talks. But Governor Rendell said during a press conference that a chunk of the state-employed workforce will still receive a partial paycheck then, because they will receive money for work done before July.
Not all state workers are paid on the same schedule. A second group won’t receive a paycheck if negotiations aren’t finished by August 2, the governor said.
Pennsylvania’s statutory budget deadline is June 31.
Roughly 80,000 state employees are caught in the middle of budget negotiations. The administration says a recent court ruling mandates it not pay them even if they continue to work.
July 13, 2009, 3:00 pm
The committee met to consider one bill. HB 109 was unanimously reported as committed. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
July 13, 2009, 11:56 am
Organized by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC), a group of concerned organizations held a press conference today to urge legislators to restore the deep cuts made to “essential” state programs under Senate Bill 850. As part of a week long series of rallies, Sharon Ward, director of the PBPC said that the groups present today will be back everyday to remind legislators to make better choices for Pennsylvania schools, hospitals and nursing homes, the unemployed, homeless and uninsured. Ward also charged that budget cuts to health care and education will not save money, but will cost the state even more further down the road. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
July 13, 2009, 11:07 am
At a press conference this morning, Governor Rendell characterized the House Republican budget proposal released on Friday as a sign of progress, but still a long way from being a budget he would sign. Along with a need for recurring, and not just one-time revenue sources, the governor reiterated he will not countenance billion-plus dollar cuts to basic education funding. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
July 13, 2009, 10:17 am
Senator Richard Alloway (R-Franklin) was the latest member of the Legislature to sign the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Yes We Can” placard. So far, 84 Representatives and Senators have affirmed “we can balance the budget, protect public safety and human services, and educate our children without raising taxes.”
July 13, 2009, 7:53 am
HOUSE REPUBLICANS UNVEIL NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL
The House Republican Caucus threw its hat into the ring Friday, unveiling a budget proposal they say addresses Pennsylvania’s priorities without imposing any new taxes. The plan, announced by Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) alongside Appropriations Chair Mario Civera (R-Delaware) and dozens of caucus members at a capitol press conference, attempts to balance the deficit through the implementation of a number of initiatives, notably a tax amnesty program that allegedly could collect several hundred million of an estimated $1.5 billion in back taxes. Other measures include the elimination of a 25 cent cigarette tax transfer to the MCare fund, a freeze on the Capital Stock & Franchise Tax phaseout, transfers of roughly $300 million from the Rainy Day Fund, $300 million from the Health Care Provider Retention Account and $100 million from the Tobacco Endowment Account, the leasing of nearly 400,000 acres of Marcellus Shale Land for drilling, various other small fund transfers and the adoption of several additional revenues proposed by Governor Rendell. Overall spending proposed by House Republicans totals $27.27 billion. According to Rep. Smith, the “kinder, gentler†alternative to Senate Republicans’ SB 850 restores partial
Continue reading Eye Opener – July 13, 2009
