11/18/24 - 107 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3zb7jppr
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Rendell: Progress Made On Budget, Except 20,000 Workers May Be Furloughed
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At a press conference this week, Gov. Rendell said there was progress in a meeting with the four Caucus leaders where they laid out a schedule to get the state budget done almost on time. But he also asked the legislative leaders to stay in Harrisburg continuously, starting June 21, until the state budget is finished.
At the same time, the Governor said if the federal government does not approve $850 million in federal Medicaid funding by July 1, he would begin putting state funds in escrow to cover that budget need.
The funds, he said, would be gleaned from further budget cuts and the furlough of 20,000 state and local workers.
The Governor also noted the state's budget costs will increase over $1 billion in programs neither he nor legislators have any control over, citing: Medical Assistance (FMAP): $337 million increase state share; Pension Costs: $336 million increase in payments; Department of Corrections: $145 million increase; Debt Service: $109 million payment increase; Aging Medical Assistance: $68 million increase; and School Employees Social Security: $22 million increase.
Severance Tax Bill Fails Again
After two and a half hours of debate and several attempts to amend the bill, House Democrats failed to gather enough votes to amend or pass House Bill 325 (Melio-D-Bucks) which would impose a new severance tax on natural gas production, on smokeless tobacco and cigars and raise the tax on cigarettes.
The bill was referred back to the House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. David Levdansky (D-Allegheny) attempted to suspend the rules to offer an amendment to provide environmental programs with more funding from the natural gas severance tax, but the effort failed by a vote of 104 to 95. Other amendments were either withdrawn or rebuffed.
Senate Shuffles Budget Bills
The Senate this week moved House Bill 2279 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) providing for General Fund appropriations (House Democrat version) out of and back into the Senate Appropriations Committee with a "negative recommendation."
Also moved along in the process were more than a dozen House bills containing non-preferred appropriations.
NewsClips: Rendell Asks Legislators To Stay Until Budget Gets Done House Yanks Vote On Marcellus Shale Tax Bill Disagreements Delay Proposed Marcellus Shale Gas Tax Column: Colliding Political Agendas Block Budget Progress
John Baer: We Could Have State Budget On Time Some Legislators Think Natural Gas Tax Is Best Answer
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6/21/2010 |
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