HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Pennsylvania lawmakers are once again expected to miss the deadline to pass a state budget.
The constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline has not been met in several years, including the 134-day-late deal last year.
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According to Spotlight PA, the state has had more than a dozen late budgets over the past two decades, with lawmakers continuing to be paid during the lapse in funding.
House Appropriations Committee member Rep. Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland) said Monday he believes lawmakers are in a better place this year compared to last year, with the potential for a July deal.
“It sounds like we’re still trying to figure out that top-line spend number and a couple of the underlying policy pieces to go with it,” said Kutz. “I’m optimistic, much more optimistic than I was last year. I think there’s general optimism around the building, and hopefully we can get those final pieces to come together.”
House Democrats passed their $53.3 billion budget bill on April 14, while Senate Republicans have said they don’t plan to pass their own budget bill with the hope of passing a bipartisan deal in the divided legislature.
“I appreciate the fact the House passed the governor’s budget,” said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R) in early June. “They decided how much they wanted to spend. They left out a little detail, which is how to pay for it.”
On June 22, Pittman, along with Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin, expressed optimism regarding a potential deal in a joint statement.
“While divided government naturally brings differing perspectives and objectives, it also creates an opportunity to find common ground and put the needs of Pennsylvanians first,” the lawmakers said. “Our Senate Republican Caucus priorities for this year continue to be that the final budget plan must be fiscally responsible, respect taxpayers, and position the Commonwealth for sustained growth. We are encouraged by the progress made to date and believe a budget agreement can come to fruition in the near future.”
The latest wrench thrown into the budget battle is the issue of skill games, which the state’s Supreme Court ruled were illegal slot machines found in convenience stores, VFWs, and small businesses across the state.
Lawmakers had been waiting for clarity from the court on how to potentially tax the machines. The court gave lawmakers 120 days to find a solution to legalize and regulate the games.
The state’s $7.25 minimum wage and recreational marijuana have also been sticking points in recent budget negotiations. Both were issues proposed in Governor Josh Shapiro’s $53.3 billion budget proposal earlier this year.
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