Pennsylvania Senate passes short-term spending plan
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An $11 billion short-term spending plan is on its way to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, although Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the measure written by the Senate’s Republican majority.
The Senate’s vote Friday was along party lines, 30 to 19, on the 80th day of entrenched budget stalemate. Action in the Republican-controlled House was scheduled for next week.
The $11 billion is four months of funding, covering July 1 to Nov. 1. Republicans say the measure also releases $24 billion in federal funds.
With the state’s spending authority curtailed, Pennsylvania’s school districts, counties and nonprofit social services organizations are trying to scrape by. But Wolf accuses Republicans of pretending they’re helping the schools and social services organizations for which they cut funding in recent years.