Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) told a Pennsylvania Press Club audience today the Senate would pass a General Fund budget by June 30 whether or not it is agreed to by Gov. Rendell.
Sen. Pileggi said Senate Republicans, House and Senate Democrats have agreed to a state budget proposal of slightly over $28 billion.
He was quoted by Capitolwire as saying, "When we close a budget is entirely dependent on the level of reasonableness of the Governor. If he wants to insist on his position in the face of opposition by both the House and Senate, he can insist on that from now until the end of his term if he likes."
Sen. Pileggi said how to deal with the potential loss of $850 million in federal Medicaid funding is still an unresolved issue. He said Senate Republicans preferred to pass a budget without assuming that funding, while House and Senate Democrats have agreed with Gov. Rendell to include it.
Senate Republicans and other legislators are worried the Governor may attempt to line-item veto appropriations near and dear to legislators in which case, Sen. Pileggi said, we will be back at doing a budget until the end of his term.
He said discussions are still underway on the loose tobacco, cigar and natural gas extraction taxes. On the natural gas severance tax in particular, Sen. Pileggi said, issues surrounding that tax-- the tax rate and distribution of the revenues-- definitely could not be resolved in the coming weeks and would have to wait until the Fall.
NewsClips:
Budget Deal Depends On Governor, Senate Republican Says
PA Budget Battle Taking Shape
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