The Senate and House this week adjourned for the May 20 Primary Election and will not return to voting session until June 2.

Left on the table were major issues like pension reform and liquor privatization.

While there were lots of discussion about a possible Senate Republican liquor/beer/wine  proposal this week, it all came to naught with no action.

State and school employee pension reform, a key issue likely to again be a part of the upcoming budget negotiations, has not moved at all.

With last week’s announcement by the Independent Fiscal Office that state revenues were down $608 million for FY 2013-14 and down another $990 million for FY 2014-15, the nearly $1.6 billion budget hole will be difficult to fill without additional revenue.

Actual fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections are down $424.5 million, according to April’s revenue figures.

Suggestions for filling that budget gap come in several flavors: a new severance tax on natural gas production, potentially expanding gaming in the state and expanding Medicaid to take advantage of short-term federal funding for the program.

Last year, with a somewhat smaller budget hole, the House did not pass its first General Fund budget bill until June 12 and took final action on June 30.  In 2012, the Senate was the first to pass a budget bill on May 9 and the House passed the final version on June 28.

One of the Corbett Administration’s mantras has been passing an on-time budget before July 1.  We’ll see how close they come this year.

5/12/2014