State Budget Stalemate is Over
It's not quite a done deal yet – but there is a state budget deal.
Legislative leaders held a news conference this morning to announce the $27.9 billion spending plan.
“Given the state of the economy, a lot of difficult choices had to be made in this budget,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati. “However, we were able to come to an agreement that meets our core principles of no broad-based tax increases, a budget that spends less than last year, and one that is sustainable. Senate Republicans said from the beginning that we were willing to negotiate as long as those parameters were met, and as a result we have a final document that recognizes the fiscal realities of Pennsylvania taxpayers.”
The agreement includes a 25-cent-a-pack increase on cigarettes, delaying the phase out of the capital stock and franchise tax and implementation of table games at the state's casinos.
Governor Ed Rendell has not commented on the spending plan yet, but House Speaker Keith McCall says he believes the governor will agree to it.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says it will take at least a week for the budget bills to be written and pass the House and Senate.
Legislative leaders held a news conference this morning to announce the $27.9 billion spending plan.
“Given the state of the economy, a lot of difficult choices had to be made in this budget,” said Lt. Gov. Joe Scarnati. “However, we were able to come to an agreement that meets our core principles of no broad-based tax increases, a budget that spends less than last year, and one that is sustainable. Senate Republicans said from the beginning that we were willing to negotiate as long as those parameters were met, and as a result we have a final document that recognizes the fiscal realities of Pennsylvania taxpayers.”
The agreement includes a 25-cent-a-pack increase on cigarettes, delaying the phase out of the capital stock and franchise tax and implementation of table games at the state's casinos.
Governor Ed Rendell has not commented on the spending plan yet, but House Speaker Keith McCall says he believes the governor will agree to it.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says it will take at least a week for the budget bills to be written and pass the House and Senate.
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