Sen. Jubelirer, Rep. Sam Smith, Sen. Brightbill

Senate and House Republican Leaders stood side by side this week to announce their legislative agenda for the year— the “Republican Playbook for Progress.”

Topping the list was a proposed cut in the Personal Income Tax based on an expected $800 million surplus this year, limits on state and school district spending as well as initiatives on personal health savings accounts, education and the environment.

As House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) said, it wasn’t so much these were brand new initiatives, the news was Senate and House Republican Leaders standing together to announce a program.

The plan did not contain specific legislative proposals, but broad areas of interest for the two caucuses.

On the environment, the Playbook said: “Protecting the environment by enhancing Growing Greener, the successful Republican-led environmental initiative, ensuring that Pennsylvania remains a leader in farmland preservation, securing a stream of funding for the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, and improving flood mitigation efforts.”

The Republicans said they are eager to work with Gov. Rendell to implement this ambitious agenda, and that this agenda should guide public policy discussions during the current legislative session.

As an aside, Gov. Rendell was quote as saying the state’s fiscal situation is a “grim, grim picture.” He delivers his budget address Wednesday and more cuts in basic operating budgets for all agencies are anticipated.

2/4/2005