Senate and House Republicans were busy this week moving budget, pension reform, liquor privatization, Fiscal Code and other bills that may be used once the details of a budget agreement are worked out.

The very real question this week was: will the very broad agreement on a budget framework survive under the microscope of drafting the language for the 30 to 40 bills needed to implement the agreement?

There is growing opposition to the proposed increase in the Personal and Sales taxes from an unusual alliance of conservative Senate and House members who think relief is not enough and many Democrats who feel it will hit their constituencies hard without any benefit.

One test of this opposition will be an anticipated vote next week in the Senate on Senate Bill 76 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) that would totally eliminate school property taxes.  Sen. David Argall, prime sponsor of the bill, has said you don’t reform property taxes, the only solution is to eliminate them.

If the Senate passes the bill, it will be an indication the partial property tax relief in the agreed-to budget framework may not have enough support.

The House has never passed legislation to totally eliminate school property taxes, despite several attempts over the years.  The best they have ever done was when it passed House Bill 504 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) which increased the Personal Income and Sales taxes enough to provide $5 billion worth of relief.

As these things go, the longer the final budget isn’t put before members, the more opportunity opponents have to pick it apart and pick off member support.

Think about the budget process in what was a typical year.  Tough negotiations lead to a final agreement and it was usually just days or maybe a week or so later until the final bills were  passed and on the Governor’s desk.

This year the tentative agreement was announced November 10 and we’ve seen no action on any agreed-to language 14 days later.

Clearly there is lots and lots of work to be done and at this point, the Senate and House have only scheduled 6 more overlapping voting days to do it.

The Senate is scheduled to be in voting session next week-- November 23, 24, 25  and December 7, 8, 9 and the House November 23, 24; 25 (Non-Voting) and December 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16.

Of course that could all change, but clearly no budget by Thanksgiving and the prospects for an early Christmas present are a little fuzzy.

What it means for nonprofit groups, local governments and state vendors still going without funding is another month, at least, without state money. 

Interestingly, in just 71 days-- February 2--  Gov. Wolf is required to present his FY 2016-17 budget proposal to the General Assembly. 

Oddly enough, February 2 is Groundhog Day.  Are we going to see same process all over again next year?

We are now at day 146 without a state budget.

NewsClips:

Property Tax Plan Collapses, Imperiling Budget Framework

Wolf: December Budget More Realistic

Midstate Lawmakers: Should Gas Drillers Pay More?

Nonprofits, Schools Pinch Pennies, Lawmakers Spend $243K

Early Budget Returns: Who’s Looking Good, Not Good

Winners, Losers In Proposed Budget Framework

Property Tax Relief At Center Stage Of State Budget

John Baer: Budget Framework, Who’s Happy Now?

Op-Ed: Natural Landscapes Need To Be Preserved, Land & Water Conservation Fund

11/23/2015