This week the Senate took time to strip out almost all the amendments the House added to the budget bill (House Bill 2499) taking it back to its original form, essentially this year’s budget with just a few additions, but with none of the additional spending recommended by the Governor.

On the positive side, this move restores many of the environmental funding cuts recommended by Gov. Rendell in his budget request in February, but the budget is a long way from being finished.

The Senate and House are due to work right up and possibly through the June 30 deadline for adopting a new state budget next week.

6/23/2006