“We’re not close to a [touchdown]”, Rogers said after a weekly closed-door meeting of House Republicans.
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The appropriations bill passed by the Senate authorizes a spending plan of $30.8 billion, a 6 percent increase over last year’s $29 billion approved budget.
The Senate legislation would create a mandatory 401(k)-style benefit for state government and public school employees hired in the future.
Legislative leaders say they want to have a bipartisan agreement with Gov. Tom Wolf on this politically tough issue.
The spending legislation, which funds the government through the 2016 budget year, has become increasingly intertwined with the tax bill, which could deliver a political victory for both parties.
Toss into the mix Harrisburg rumors that Turzai could be ousted as Speaker or a growing feud between Turzai and second-in-command PA Rep. Dave Reed of in, the Republican Majority Leader – and, well, you see a state House that’s struggling to get its act together.
“Obviously, it’s a puzzle”, said Reed.
Earlier Thursday, Senate GOP leaders emerged from what they called a positive meeting with Reed. “I think this is a very profitable industry and this will add to their profitability and paying more into sustaining our nation and helping it grow is not unreasonable”.
In another signal of how slow the negotiations are moving, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the House will not come into session next week until Tuesday, as was previously scheduled. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, who said the state would be sending the wrong message by expanding sales of alcoholic beverages while the House holds up Folmer’s legislation to legalize medical marijuana for the sick.
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House GOP officials said Friday they’ll seek to reduce the package’s spending level and tax increase, and eliminate a provision to artificially reduce next year’s pension obligation payments. “Our negotiations are progressing steadily, and I expect in that senators will shortly be able to consider a bill in that will meet the funding needs for our national defense and other priorities”. It also would impose limits on charter school reserves, postpone the use of tests as a public school graduation requirement until the 2018-19 school year and authorize borrowing of at least $2.5 billion to pay the state share of school construction projects. At issue are a $1.1 trillion government-wide spending bill and a sprawling renewal of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade.
