House GOP members went against their leadership this weekend, casting serious doubt on the previously announced budget “agreement.”
Rank-and-file Republicans held a closed-doors meeting on Saturday, after which they told reporters they would not be supporting the plan negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, House Majority Leader Dave Reed and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. That plan includes $30.7 billion in spending, including $350 million in additional education funding.
After their meeting, House Republicans signaled their intent to seek a smaller budget plan: $30.3 billion in spending, with only $150 million for education, Charles Thompson of the Patriot News reports. The plan proposes no changes to the state’s sales or income taxes.
“We’re trying to deliver a budget that we think we can get the votes to pass,” Rep. Kerry Benninghoff said.
Wolf has spent much of the last few weeks trying to keep Harrisburg on the same page to push forward with negotiations, though it has been hard keeping the debates productive.
“Nearly one month ago, Republican leaders agreed to a budget with me that includes the largest increase in education funding, at all levels, in the history of Pennsylvania,” Wolf said in a statement Saturday. “It is long past time for the Legislature to move ahead with this agreement and end this impasse.”
Lawmakers in the capital appear no closer to ending the budget stalemate than they were at the start of the 23-week ordeal.
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22 Responses
I want to pay higher taxes…come on people don’t you…
David Diano I couldn’t agree more.
The Democratic Governor and the Democratic Legislature of Connecticut are faced with same issues as Pennsylvania.
We hope the defenders of The Forgotten Taxpayers will stand strong.The Senate Republican Leadership are not reliable. Senate Wagner is standing strong.
Connecticut Grapples With $350 Million Budget Gap
Details set to emerge on what likely will be cut across state
http://www.wsj.com/articles/connecticut-grapples-with-350-million-budget-gap-1449537972?mod=itp&mod=djemITP_h
It is a good thing that Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania supported John McGinnis defeated the Republican Establishment.
Pennsylvania Independent http://paindependent.com/2012/04/updated-incumbents-fall-in-pa-house-congressional-races/
The biggest incumbent to fall was state Rep. Rick Geist, R-Blair, who served in the state House since 1979.
He was ousted by John McGinnis, a finance professor at Penn State’s Altoona campus who ran on a libertarian platform with tea party support.
It is very good thing that Cris Dush replaced the Smith (Snuffy and Sam) dynasty.
Denny Bonavitacola was no help in exposing the cynical cronyism of Smith.
Not only Governor Wolf and the Democrats but Republican Leadership should realize the draining of money from private consumers and private producers and private investors crushes growth and lowers the standard of living of all.
Commonwealth Foundation: Taxes: Isn’t $17,000 Per Family of Four Enough?
http://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/issues/detail/taxes-isnt-17000-per-family-of-four-enough
December 4, 2015, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Did you know Pennsylvania’s state and local tax burden is more than $17,000 per family of four?
This figure may be surprising, but the feeling that families and job creators are overburdened is all too familiar. After having his tax hike plans rejected four times, Gov. Wolf should recognize that the public has no interest in sending even more to Harrisburg.
Typical GOP Teabaggers who refuse to fund a functioning govt for ideological reasons. Only solution is for PA to wake up and elect some good Democrats.
While I can agree with no sales tax increase, PA desperately needs a gas extraction tax just like all other states. That can fund better education for the long term benefit of PA.
They should work on increasing revenue to handle debts.
There are two issues here: The need for a budget, and the need to reduce spending. On the first issue, this has dragged on for far too long. Rank-and-file Republicans ought to have taken their recent stance back in June and rebelled then, instead of just sitting on their keisters and letting their leadership negotiate. On the second issue, the House is correct; we should hold the line on spending and taxes. So let’s take the votes NOW, and every other day until something gets through.
The G.O.P. increasingly prefers empty theatrics to the actual work of governance. There’s a time for posturing, and a time for getting the job done. It is almost time to start circulating petitions for 2016. I hope that people who are tired of these shenagins step up and challenge some of these bozos in the primaries.
Saida Witherspoon-
Society? I’d like to see functioning adults in the legislature.
So it seems that the things such as education and job security are not what matter in these talks. At least on the Republican side. Education creates functioning adults in society I thought but maybe I am missing something. As long as their tax bracket isn’t affected right
Let’s be honest, the democrats are most certainly not supporting the republicans…. LOL. The senate, which is nearly two thirds GOP, just passed the budget with bipartisan support… It is called a compromise…
The Senate just passed (43-7) the plan they negotiated with Gov. Wolf and House Republican Leaders. The House Republican rank and file can either get on board or torpedo the budget, but we have a bipartisan budget now and its passage or failure is entirely in the hands of the House. If it fails, it’s their fault… if we’re being honest.
Lets be honest. Democrats are talking about siding with Republicans at this point. Wolf has brought mandates to budget negotiations that these elected officials can’t support and sent mailers out attacking the moderate republicans he could have gotten a tax vote from. He shot himself in the foot a bit. Don’t blame it all on Republicans. Enough to go around for everyone.
Thank God. We do not need any new taxes, income, sales, or BS fees.
Turzai has lost control. You have a large segment of the Republicans – in Harrisburg and in DC – who are basically anrchists, who prefer to have no government at all.
Stalwart-
They should remain in session and work through the weekend. Aren’t there existing mechanisms requiring their presence and staying in session?
I’m not opposed to them being barricaded in.
“Not allowed” by whom, Mr. Diano?
Will Turzai be crying next to Boehner on the unemployment line?
I think all salaries and all funding of the legislature and Governor’s office except essential functions should be withheld. They need to feel the pain they create. No sense of urgency on their part.
If they can’t finish the budget, they should not be allowed to go to the PA Society parties this coming weekend.