Pennsylvania House returns, with fight over $2.2B unresolved
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives are back in the Capitol for their first session in seven weeks as a two-month budget stalemate shows no signs of ending.
The Republican majority went behind closed doors Monday afternoon to discuss a plan some are pressing to balance the budget without borrowing or expanding casino gambling.
It leans heavily on diverting cash from off-budget programs that support public transportation or environmental improvements. It’s not clear whether it has enough support to pass, and what happens after that if it doesn’t.
At issue is how to come up with $2.2 billion to keep state agencies, programs, schools and institutions funded at levels supported overwhelmingly by lawmakers in a $32 billion spending agreement.
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s out of options to make payments on time.