Before recessing to the Call of the President Pro Tempore, Senator O’Pake inquired when the chamber should be expected to reconvene Session. Senator Pileggi replied that the Senate will remain on a 6 hour call until significant negotiations on the budget were made and would warrant coming back in. Senator O’Pake asked if they could anticipate a return on Monday, and Senator Pileggi stated that he did not know for certain, adding that budget conversations over the weekend will determine how close they are to finalizing an agreement.

The Senate is currently debating the override of the Governor’s veto on SB 850 relating to PHEAA grant funding.

While the Republicans are arguing in favor of the override, the Democrats are stating that the entire budget needs to be resolved, so that “one hostage situation does not replace another.”

UPDATE: Senator Tomlinson’s motion to reconsider the PHEAA Appropriation Line Item failed, 30-19.

@ 4:25 p.m. – the Senate is now considering a motion by Senator Erickson to reconsider the appropriations for the Department of Public Welfare in the Governor’s list of vetoed line items.

UPDATE: Senator Erickson’s motion to reconsider the DPW Appropriation Line Item, failed, 30-19.

@ 4:30 p.m. – the Senate is now considering a motion by Senators Greenleaf, Rafferty and Orie to reconsider appropriations for DPW, in particular funding to prevent domestic violence.

UPDATE: Senator Greenleaf, Raffery and Orie’s motion to reconsider the DPW Appropriation Line Item failed, 30-19.

@ 5:55 p.m. – the Senate is now considering a motion by Senator Alloway to reconsider appropriations for DPW, in particular funding to the homeless.

UPDATE: Senator Alloway’s motion to reconsider the DPW Appropriation Line Item failed, 30-19.

@ 6:02 p.m. – the Senate is now considering

Continue reading Senate Floor – 3:49 p.m.

The House unanimously elected Tony Barbush as its new Chief Clerk. As Session wrapped up today, Speaker McCall announced tomorrow will be a non-voting Session day in the House. Friday could also turn into a token Session day, he said. He also announced the Conference Committee on HB 1416 will meet tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in the Majority Caucus Room.

Before considering non-preferreds on the Senate Floor, Senator Costa made a motion to declare the bill unconstitutional, and referenced Art. III Sec. 21 of the PA constitution regarding funding priorities. He argued that the bills should not be considered while the General Fund bill is still being debated. The motion failed with a vote of 20-30, with the Senate Republicans voting down the motion and choosing to proceed with consideration of the bills.

The Senate is considering SB 1, which creates a Legislative Fiscal Office so that the legislative branch might determine the most cost-effective state programs and remedy their fiscal inefficiencies in an economy with limited resources. Senator Browne, who sponsored the legislation, thanked bipartisan cooperation in seeing the bill reach the floor for a vote. When Senator Williams asked for the cost to operate the office, Senator Browne replied that the full function of the office will be $4 million, and should begin operating in 2010-2011.

While the Senate Democrats are arguing that the program funds a single program while the current budget cuts programs of value to millions of Pennsylvanians, the Republicans have responded that the establishment of the office will not be until the next budget cycle, when the legislature and the Governor have the determination on whether to fund it.

UPDATE: The bill passed the Senate 30-19 with every Senate Democrat but Senator Boscola voting in the negative.

Check back here for the latest notable floor actions from today.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m. – PLS has learned there will be no further votes in the House today.

UPDATE 12:07 p.m. – Marsico motion to suspend rules failed 95-101.

UPDATE: 12:05 p.m. -  Motion to suspend rules to consider HB 1416 on July 16th was adopted 193-3.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m. – Rep. Marsico has made a motion to suspend the Rules for immediate consideration of HR 414, which would allow SB 850 to be called up, with amendments.

UPDATE 11:52 a.m. – Rep. Sam Smith has made a motion to suspend House Rules to permit the House to consider HB 1416, PN 2433, along with A02779 on July 165, 2009, together with any amendments filed by 5pm today.

The Senate is debating the budget on the Floor in Session. Democratic Leader Mellow argued that his Republican colleagues should stop being “intellectually dishonest”; challenging them to come back to an amendment that balances the bill with an additional $1.5 million.

Republican Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman retorted that SB 850 was in balance when they passed it in May, but alterations need to be made. He stated that despite further cuts, a resolution is not close to being reached but the Senate Republicans will not back down from their only goal for this year’s budget: no broad-based tax increases.

The Senate adopted in part the Real Property Disposition Plan No. 1 this afternoon with a vote of 47-0, and rejected the inclusion of the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children in the plan’s context. View the “Executive Nominations from the Senate Floor” section on the front page of the Capitol Toolbox for the Roll Call votes.