The voting schedule House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) published Thursday contained some hints about what the House plans to do as a next step in resolving the state budget stalemate.

On Monday, the House Finance Committee meets to consider House Bill 1378 (Milne-R-Chester), a Fiscal Code bill which is typically used as part of a package of bills to implement the General Fund budget.

On Tuesday, the schedule shows the House voting on House Bill 1460 (Adolph-R- Delaware), a General Fund budget vehicle House Republicans moved around in July, but Tabled in September and temporarily resurrected and Tabled again on November 4.

Senate and House legislative leaders have been meeting with and without representatives of the Governor’s Office in an attempt to craft a budget to put on Gov. Wolf’s desk in the next two weeks.

Philly.com Friday reported Rep. Reed as saying he hopes to have a budget deal by Thanksgiving.

Otherwise, Tuesday’s election and the Democratic sweep of the PA Supreme Court was the top news for the week.

As a result of the election, there will be two vacancies on the Superior Court, since David Wecht (D) and Christine Donohue (D) move on to the Supreme Court. 

But, Senate Republicans were also celebrating the addition of another new GOP Senator-- Guy Reschenthaler in Allegheny County-- bringing their majority up to an historic high of 31. 

Of course Republicans also lost one Senator-- Dominic Pileggi-- who was elected to Common Pleas Court in Delaware County.

House Democrats lost two members to other elected positions: Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland who was elected Mayor of Chester in Delaware County and Rep. Cherelle Parker who is now a member of Philadelphia City Council.

House Republicans lost one member-- Rep. Tim Krieger who was elected to Common Pleas Court in Westmoreland by 116 votes.

Special elections will have to be scheduled for these seats when they officially become vacant.

Interestingly, Republicans flipped four county courthouses to the GOP-- Beaver, Fayette, Montour and Northumberland counties, but Democrats flipped four counties their way-- Armstrong, Cambria, Centre and Westmoreland counties.

Results are still outstanding in Bucks and Washington counties where voting results were too close to call.

The House is scheduled to come back to voting session on November 9 and 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24 and December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16.

The Senate is now only scheduled to be in session for six voting days for the remainder of the year-- November 16, 17, 18 and December 7, 8, 9.

Both the House and Senate can change their schedule at any time, assuming there is something to vote on.

NewsClips:

GOP Leader Predicts PA Budget Deal, Wolf Says Close

State Budget Deal In The Works?

PA Budget Stalemate Drags On, No Compromise In Sight

Woes Spreads In PA’s 4-Month Budget Standoff

Poll: Voters Still Want New Tax On Natural Gas Drillers

Op-Ed: Would Natural Gas Severance Tax Be Out Of Line?

Op-Ed: Get Creative On Taxing Natural Gas

Wolf On Budget: I Can’t Do This By Myself

New Poll Shows Voters Losing Faith In Harrisburg Politicians

11/9/2015