Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) told PLS in an interview Tuesday that yesterday’s new House Democratic spending plan is a “charade” that “just doesn’t make sense.”

“I don’t think that proposal deserves serious detailed commentary,” Senator Pileggi said. “It’s very unlikely to survive a full vote on the floor of the House.”

House Democrats surprised many observers Monday when they unveiled a new budget plan that called for some of the state’s higher education system to be funded separately from the general fund. House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) said the new account would need $1.3 billion in funding while the state spent $27.8 billion next fiscal year in the general fund.

Rep. Evans denied the proposal, which the Appropriations Committee approved, is tantamount to a $29.1 billion spending plan.

“That’s some kind of new math that I’m not familiar with,” Senator Pileggi said.

The two sides are now farther apart on a budget agreement, already 14 days late, than they were before the week started, the majority leader said. The Democrats’ plan calls for $300 million more than even Governor Rendell wants, he said.

“They seem to be moving in exactly the wrong decision — for more

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