Rendell: if income tax increase is needed it will be temporary
Gov. Rendell said that if he has to push for an increase to the state’s income tax to help balance the budget, he would want it to expire after three years.
Senate GOP budget proposal struck down in House Appropriations
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee voted down the Senate Republicans $27.3 billion budget proposal on a 20-14 party line vote — a result that was less than surprising.
Budget round-up
The Patriot-News says the state needs to have an honest discussion on which will hurt more: cutting programs or raising taxes, while the House Appropriations Committee is set to consider the Republican passed budget at 2 p.m.
Rendell cutting $400 – 500 million from his budget proposal
Gov. Rendell announced today that he is currently working on cutting $400 to $500 millilon from his initial $29 billion budget plan, although no details have been finalized.
34 days until budget deadline, and political wars waging
Here’s a big surprise: with just 34 days left until the June 30 budget deadline the GOP Senate and the Governor and House Democrats are still $1.7 billion apart on their budget plans, and continued publicly sniping at each other yesterday.
House GOP Leader asks Dems to show how they will pay for their budget
Yesterday, House Republican Leader Sam Smith issued a press release stating that instead of complaining about the Senate Republicans budget plan he’d like for the Democrats to release their plan on how they will fund their budget proposal this year.
Ideological budget divide between state R’s and D’s
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the tough budgetary times in the state has displayed the deep ideological differences of the GOP and the Democrats, that hasn’t been seen since before Gov. Rendell was elected in 2003.
Weekly Wrap-up 5/4 -> 5/8
Last week, the Senate GOP unveiled their budget plan, bringing anger from special interest groups, the governor and the House Democrats.
PGH Post-Gazette: The Senate’s opening salvo is a loser all around
Today the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editors explained why they believe the Senate Republicans opening volley in the budget match is particularly harsh, and damaging to Pennsylvanians.
Senate passes $27.3 billion budget plan on party line, Dems say cuts are too deep
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.