Budget Update (Dec. 18 1:30): Gov. Wolf’s office announced Friday just before lunch they believe they have enough votes in the House for a tax bill to support the $30.8 billion General Fund budget agreed to by Senate Republicans and Democrats, House Democrats and by his office.
House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) said he intends to bring the tax bill up for a vote on Saturday or Sunday when the House reconvenes.
While the details of the tax package have not yet been made public, the Associated Press is reporting it involves raising the Personal Income Tax from 3.07 to 3.3 percent, which would yield $700 to $800 million in added revenue.
Also expected to be part of the package, the AP said, are increases in taxes on cigarettes and banks.
Senate leaders told the AP they believe the package can pass the Senate, as long as the pension reform bill is part of the package of budget-related bills making it to the Governor’s desk.
The House adjourned Friday after amending the Senate’s pension reform bill-- Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh)-- several times. The bill was then referred to the House Appropriations Committee. It is unclear, at this writing, whether the amendments are acceptable to the Senate.
Over in the Senate, PLS reported Republicans are reviewing the changes made by the House to the Administrative Code bill-- House Bill 941 (Regan-R-Cumberland)-- and other bills.
Presently the Senate is in recess for Caucus meetings
NewsClips:
Does Wolf Finally Have Votes To End Budget Crisis?
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