Got furlough/budget questions? The Patriot has answers.
Today the Patriot-News published a Q & A section for state employees or anybody else that is worried about the state budget and what exactly it would mean for “non-critical” workers if they are furloughed.
Rendell on furloughs, healthcare reform, rainy day fund
Although Rendell thinks agreements in energy policy and an economic stimulus package are not far away, he signaled that some parts of a healthcare plan to help the uninsured are going to have to wait until fall to be negotiated – and for a final package to be passed.
Jealous of Jersey…?
…In terms of passing a budget on time, yes. The Patriot’s Brett Lieberman blogged today about how New Jersey’s Legislature has managed to reach a $32.8 billion budget deal a week before deadline, AND were able to cut spending from last year by $600 million.
Budget Update: June 17th
With 14 days until deadline, Gov. Rendell and Legislative leaders planned to meet again today to negotiate a budget.
In the House: Members have filed 130 amendments to the General Appropriations Bill, which are set to be debated on the week of June 23rd. Yesterday, the House voted 100-99 to defeat a proposal which would have allowed a vote on Sen. Piccola’s bill to prevent state employee furloughs.
Mark Stier: GOP health-care plan inadaquate
Mark Stier, health care campaign manager for the Service Employees International Union’s Pennsylvania State Council, explains in his As I see it, Patriot-News column today why the Republicans HealthNET PA plan won’t be adaquate to help the uninsured — if it even works at all.
Senate passes $240 million in tax cuts, as they prepare to hash out budget
Yesterday, the Senate passed a package of four bills that will grant $240 million in tax cuts — mostly to low-income residents and small businesses — as legislative leaders get ready to work out a budget for the coming fiscal year.
House GOP fails to move anti-furlough bill
The AP reported yesterday:
“Republicans in the state House failed in efforts to force to a head the issue of potential furloughs of about 25,000 state employees. The GOP caucus fell one vote shy as they worked to advance legislation that would declare the entire state work force critical and therefore immune to being furloughed if the state has not enacted a new budget by the time the fiscal year ends June 30.”
Patriot-News wants yearly cost-of-living increase for MH-MR facilities
The Patriot-News editorialized today stating that, “the measure of a culture’s social conscience is the degree to which it takes care of those least able to care for themselves.”
Tribune Review’s Bumsted not convinced furlough required by law
In Brad Bumsted’s Sunday column in the Tribune-Review, he explains that last week’s Senate State Govt’ Committee hearing actually got to the truth of the furlough question.
Budget Update: June 9th – 13th
House Appropriations stirred up the debate this week with an amendment to the budget bill, which increases spending by $147.6 million, and transfers $724 million from the state’s Rainy Day fund into the General Fund for use. Other feuds focus on the best way to keep about 24,000 state employees from being furloughed, if or when, the budget isn’t passed on time. Of course, both parties have their own way to do this — as the Gov. continues to threaten that furloughs could happen as early as July 1st.