Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) has signaled a possible end to the state’s budget impasse.
“I am calling the Senate back to session at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 3, 2023, to finalize the General Appropriations Budget (HB 611). Signing HB 611 will provide the necessary funding to schools, counties, and organizations completing 75% of the budget.”
Ward issued the statement just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday and plans to put an end to an impasse that has lasted more than 33 days.
The House- and Senate-passed budget legislation only needs a constitutionally required final signature from Lt. Gov. Austin Davis during a Senate session in order to advance to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
Shapiro has said he will sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches him, freeing up money for schools, county agencies, non-profit groups, and others that rely on state funding for their operations.
Still remaining are the updates to the state’s fiscal code, spelling out how to spend the money allocated in the appropriations bill.
“The remaining 25% of the budget requires legislation to authorize expenditures. Gov. Shapiro has provided us the necessary assurances to guarantee the monies for those programs will remain untouched until the legislature has finalized the language. Senate Republicans will continue to negotiate with our counterparts in good faith and in the best interests of Pennsylvanians. We hope our counterparts will do the same.”
The bill expected to be signed Thursday allocates $45.5 billion in spending from the state’s general fund, which includes most all revenues that are not legally restricted to specific purposes.
The bill includes $7.9 billion in basic education funding, an 8% increase over last year – particularly crucial given the landmark court decision finding Pennsylvania’s inequitable funding of public schools to be unconstitutional.
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2 Responses
Caved.
Yeah, what does she get out of this? Assurances? Ok sure.