The signing into law of House Bill 1690 (Turzai-R- Allegheny), the compromise liquor and wine sales reforms agreed to by the House, Senate and Gov. Wolf, was the most high profile sign of bipartisan progress on an important issue this week at the Capitol.

Less noticeable, except to the environmental community, was an agreement between Gov. Wolf and Republicans where the Governor backed away from the adoption of updated final regulations on conventional oil and gas drilling in Senate Bill 279 (Hutchinson-R-Venango).

Gov. Wolf also agreed to a new approach in Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) for the General Assembly’s review of any plan DEP came up with to implement EPA’ Clean Power Climate Plan.

The drilling regs and the Clean Power Plan issues featured prominently in the recent resignation of DEP Secretary John Quigley.

The announcement Shell would build an ethane cracker plant in Beaver County close to the western Pennsylvania Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas fields gave a boost to not only economic optimism, but bipartisanship as well.

Gov. Wolf said the up to $66 million in annual tax credits Shell is eligible for in the next 28 years from the state was well worth the cost for this “transformational” investment.  The tax credit program was put in place by Gov. Corbett and a bipartisan coalition of legislators in 2012.

Pension Reform Next?

The House Wednesday voted to put Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh) in position for a “do-over” in the near future.  This is the pension reform bill agreed to by the Senate Republicans and the Governor, but voted down in December when House Democrats failed to support it.

Gaming Expansion

The other potential source of revenue being discussed to help balance the FY 2016-17 budget by House Republicans is an expansion of gaming.  By regulating online gaming, putting slot machines in airports and certain other areas, they believe they can generate significant additional revenue.

House Bill 649 (Payne-R-Dauphin) regulating the online gaming industry remains on the House Calendar if that Chamber is so inclined to act.

There was also a significant push to add legalizing video poker and other games at bars and taverns this week, but that generated even more concerns.

What’s Next?

We’re coming up on the mid-point in the June sprint toward the July 1 deadline for a state budget.  We’ll soon see if all these positive happenings have an impact on getting the FY 2016-17 budget done on time.

NewsClips:

Is Compromise In Air As New Budget Deadline Looms?

Sponsors, Advocates Urge Support For Water Use Fee Bill

Water Use Fees Proposed In PA To Pay For Stream Cleanup

Record Gun Sales Boost Grants To Wildlife Agencies

AP: Wolf Declines To Say Whether State Will Meet Budget Deadline

It’s Budget Time Again, Should We Cringe? Or Chill?

Hope, Skepticism On Smoother Budget Talks This Year

It’s Back! Deadline Looms For New State Budget

John Baer: Speaker Turzai’s Reason To Play Nice

6/13/2016