While legislative leadership worked this week to put together the four dimensional puzzle that is a $1.25 billion+ revenue package, the report came that FY 2015-16 ended with $97 million less than at least the House Republicans were counting on to balance the budget.
That may not seem like a lot, but with negotiators anywhere from $100 to $300 million apart in their discussions, that $97 million was more than a ripple.
House Republican Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) still maintains they are ready to vote a $1.25 billion revenue package, as soon as they get agreement from the other Caucuses. $1.25 billion is what they believe is needed to balance the budget they passed in Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh),
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) repeats, a $1.36 billion revenue package is needed to balance the budget now on the Governor’s desk.
All week, options for a gross receipts tax on natural gas, borrowing from this or that state fund with a healthy balance-- the State Workers’ Insurance Fund being one, an increase in the bank shares tax and making this or that adjustment to a fee or tax (but not the Personal Income or Sales taxes) were moved on and off the negotiating table.
The trouble with this revenue package puzzle is, as Rep. Reed said last summer, “no one knows what the picture is” and it’s hard to finish a puzzle like that. Ask any 5 year old.
There are still four primary sources of revenue on the table--
1. Expanded Gaming: $267 million for expanded gaming in House Bill 2150 (Dunbar-R- Westmoreland) (now in the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, although there are other vehicles in the Senate), authorizing 6 new types of gaming, including iGaming, slots at airports and off-track betting parlors, although that might be changing. Rep. Reed this week waived the addition of video poker machines ($200 million, maybe) again, even though it was defeated in the House before House Bill 2150 was passed;
2. Tax Amnesty: $129 million for tax amnesty in House Bill 1888 (Quinn-R- Montgomery), now in the Senate Appropriations Committee;
3. Tobacco Taxes: $480 million increase in tobacco taxes, including new taxes on chewing, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products (the cigar exemption remains, maybe), which the House has not acted on yet in a Tax Code bill; and
4. Liquor Reform: $150 million in revenue from the liquor reforms already signed into law in House Bill 1690 (Turzai-R- Allegheny), a number of some said is an “optimistic” revenue estimate.
To move a revenue package into position, the Senate and House must act on at least Tax Code and Fiscal Code bills which may take a minimum of 1 or 2 days to get to the Governor.
They do have one quick vehicle for the Tax Code-- House Bill 1198 (Barrar-R- Delaware)-- that was part of the FY 2015-16 budget consideration. A conference committee could be set up easily to amend and report out the bill and then it’s just an up or down vote in the Senate and House.
There are a whole flock of Fiscal Code bills in various positions in the Senate and House. All they have to do is pick one.
And, of course, there’s also that “bipartisan” House pension reform bill-- Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh)-- the Senate non-concurred in on June 23 that could be activated, if there is agreement on new pension language.
But, that’s a long shot.
Nonpreferred Appropriations Bills Signed
Gov. Wolf Friday signed into law 9 nonpreferred appropriations bills-- House Bills 2175 to 2184-- including: House Bill 2178 (Markosek-D- Allegheny) State Gaming Fund (House Fiscal Note and summary)-- now Act 10A, House Bill 2179 (Markosek-D-Allegheny) Workmen’s Compensation Fund (House Fiscal Note and summary)-- now Act 11A and House Bill 2180 (Markosek-D- Allegheny) Philadelphia Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund (House Fiscal Note and summary)-- now Act 12A.
What’s Next
The House announced it would be in voting session July 10 (4:00 p.m.) and on July 11 and 12 (both at 11:00 a.m.).
The Senate does not expect to return to voting session before Monday, July 11, unless budget legislation is finalized.
Both face a Monday deadline for getting the revenue package to Gov. Wolf for his action.
July 11 is the last day the Governor can take action on Senate Bill 1073 to either sign it or line-item veto the bill down to where it matches current state revenues.
We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
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