We might be getting close to showdown time in Harrisburg.
And this is just between the Republicans.
Five months after they were supposed to have a new spending plan in place, the state is still working without a new budget.
Yesterday, the full Senate passed a budget plan, while the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by none other than Springfield's Rep. Bill Adolph, R-165, approved their own competing measures.
Now the Republican factions appear headed for a collision, possibly as early as today.
Here's all the details.
Both plans will provide more money for education, something at the top of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's wish list. The Senate package would mean another $300 million; while the House measure would fork over another $150 million.
The bid difference comes in where the new revenue would come from.
Wolf has already raised the white flag on his hopes for a new tax on Marcellus Shale, as well as hiking the state personal income tax. It is likely the Senate would tinker with state sales taxes, either an increase or widening the products and services that can be taxed.
Over in the House, they again want to reach into the wallets of smokers, with another increase in the cigarette tax, along with licensing fees from some kind of expansion in state gaming and expanding the state sales tax to lottery winnings.
Some votes could come today.
Stay tuned.
Comments