December 4, 2015
There’s been a lot of activity around the state budget the last few days, and it’s hard to say where one week ends and another begins. With a stable framework still intact, lawmakers continue to work on a state spending plan. Details have yet to be revealed, but reports indicate we can expect an “historic” increase in education funding, an expansion of the state sales tax base, as well as pension and liquor reforms.
Check out: http://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/9552568-74/tax-budget-liquor#axzz3tFsBs08t
To keep the budget ball rolling, both chambers have scheduled session days through the weekend and into next week. The Senate will be in session today through Wednesday, December 9; the House has session scheduled from today through next Saturday, December 12 (except for Sunday). Hopefully, these stretches of voting days are in fact the home stretch.
Any updates to the session schedule will be posted here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm
What’s to be expected over the next few days? Lawmakers and the governor will continue to meet behind the scenes to hash out the particulars of a complete state spending plan, which will include General Appropriations Bill as well as bills to amend Fiscal Code, the Public School Code, the Public Welfare Code and the Tax Reform Code. While those meetings are going on, expect action in the Rules Committee and the Appropriations Committee in each chamber, as well as on the House and Senate floor to position bills that can easily be amended to include each of those initiatives.
As of this writing, it’s possible that this could all be wrapped up by the middle to end of next week, but just like during true budget season, things are changing faster than you can say “fiscal year”. Stay tuned to this blog and to our twitter feed for updates as budget activity continues.