Next Few Days of Budget Talks Critical, Scarnati Says
June 22nd, 2010by Alex Roarty
Senate President Pro Temp Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said Tuesday that the next few days will be critical if legislative leaders and the chief executive want to reach a budget agreement by June 30.
“Absolutely,” the senator said after emerging from budget talks this afternoon with other legislative leaders. “I think that everybody has a real reality check of what the goal is here, and that is to get the budget done on time and one that reflects our revenues.”
Continue reading...
Rendell, Legislative Leaders to Meet Again Wednesday
June 21st, 2010by Alex Roarty
Governor Ed Rendell said Monday that legislative leaders will present to him on Wednesday a budget that does not rely on any tax or revenue increases, at which point the state’s chief executive will review the proposal to determine its feasibility.
But the governor made it clear that despite his willingness to consider the leaders’ spending suggestion, he still think the state needs some new and increased taxes to avoid harmful budget cuts.
Continue reading...
House Ds come to table games agreement, though vote date uncertain
December 7th, 2009by Alex Roarty
House Democrats appear poised to try and vote on long-awaited table games legislation Tuesday, a caucus leader told reporters Monday, after Democratic lawmakers agreed to many of the bill’s details during an afternoon caucus.
But House rules could delay a vote if Democrats are unable to acquire the 134 votes necessary to suspend rules, and some Republicans have also initiated a parliamentary maneuver that could further stall the process.
Continue reading...
Eachus, DeWeese, Stetler asked to testify in Bonusgate probe
December 4th, 2009by Alex Roarty
HARRISBURG — A statewide grand jury has invited the state House majority leader, the man he displaced in that job and the state secretary of revenue to appear before the panel, a move that has presaged charges against others who received such letters in an ongoing corruption probe.
The letters went to State Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, the House majority leader; State Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, who served as majority leader until Mr. Eachus succeeded him in a caucus shakeup; and Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler, a former eight-term Democratic House member from York.
Continue reading...
Evans Outlines Budget Plan
January 26th, 2010by Alex Roarty
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) told reporters Tuesday afternoon that he is not committed to a broad-based tax increase for next fiscal year’s budget but conceded lawmakers must contend with another “challenging” economic climate as they try to retain funding for legislative priorities like education.
The appropriations chairman offered few specifics about what he would like to see in the budget, choosing instead to defer judgment until he can discuss the spending plan with lawmakers and the public. But he outlined a timeline for budget hearings, which will occur through February, and set a tentative goal of approving a budget bill in the House by May 1.
Continue reading...