Chasm widens over PA budget
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
By: Scott Detrow
scott_detrow@pubradionews.net
A key Republican in Pennsylvania's upcoming budget negotiations says he wants to see Governor Rendell's spending plan scaled back by one and a half billion dollars.
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As Senate Appropriations Committee Chair, Republican Jake Corman of Centre County will be one of the main players in spring budget debates.
He says Governor Rendell's 29-billion dollar spending plan is "budgetary malpractice," and too costly for the current fiscal climate.
Corman wants to see a final plan closer to 27 and a half billion dollars, though he concedes that means institutions like state libraries will suffer.
Corman: Some line items that do positive things for the commonwealth aren't going to get funded. Libraries are obviously an important part of our community-an important part of the commonwealth and education-but it's a tough year.
Corman says Rendell's plan relies too much on taxes, and says a proposed levy on Marcellus Shale natural gas extractions is "off the table."
A spokesman for Governor Rendell says the targeted taxes in the budget are fair.