May 7th, 2009

Yesterday, after four hours of debate the Senate passed the GOP’s $27.3 billion budget plan on a party line vote.  The Republicans plan reduces spending for next year by $1 billion from the current year’s approved plan, a move that has happened only one other time in the last 30 years, reports The Patriot-News.

The Republicans plan kept funding for the state’s primary food assistance program the same as this year, dissapointing the executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank as they had asked for a $6 million increase due to how many more people are in need this year.  The plan also completely cut state funding for museums and art programs.

But Republicans considered it necessary given this year’s anticipated $3 billion revenue shortfall, and their lack of appetite for tax increases. The plan also leaves the state’s $750 million Rainy Day Fund untouched, a decision that they said is necessary to minimize the impact when the short-term federal stimulus money goes away.

Rendell’s plan called for using $375 million from the fund.

“The circumstances we are in today call for a budget just like this,” said Senate Appropriation Committee Chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre County, during the Senate debate.

But Democrats saw the plan as wrong-headed. They said it dismantles job creation and economic development programs at a time when they are most needed. They said it cuts funding for schools and programs that help families struggling in this economy. And they didn’t like that it doesn’t use the Rainy Day funds intended for times like these.

“This budget before us today will take an enormous step backward,” said Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, the ranking Democrat on the appropriations committee.

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Also in today’s Patriot, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi discusses his caucuses’ spending plan.   And read more about how the House likely won’t pass this plan in the Philadephia Inquirer, and an article stating that if yesterday is any indication it’s unlikely a final budget will be passed by June 30 in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.