Deadline passed, still no budget
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
July 1st has come and gone in Harrisburg, and there's still no Pennsylvania budget.
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On the first day of the fiscal year, a group of musicians banged out patriotic tunes in the Capitol rotunda on a collection of plastic pipes. The performance was notable because it had more action than the House of Representatives' budget debate did.
The chamber adjourned at midday, despite protests from Republicans who wanted to discuss a spending plan. Minority Leader Sam Smith pointed out the House is lagging behind other government bodies in the budget debate.
Smith: The governor has proposed a budget in February. The Senate responded with a budget here a few months ago. But this House doesn't have a budget that we have worked through. And that is really the point.
Majority Leader Todd Eachus said the session ended early so that Democratic lawmakers could review the two parties' spending proposals line by line. He and other leaders met at Governor Rendell's residence Monday and Tuesday nights. The next budget session is scheduled for early next week.
LET ME FIRST START BY SAYING I HAVE BEEN A VEIWER OF WHYY FOR A LONG TIME AND LOVE ALL YOUR PROGRAMS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE PENNSYLVANIA BUDGET AND THERE IS NOTHING ON THE LOCAL NEWS AT ALL LEAVE IT TO WHYY TO COME THOUGH FOR ME BY WRITTING THIS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY WILL NOT MEET UNTIL NEXT WEEK. THAT MEANS HOW WILL THE EMPOLYEES OF THE STATE BE PAID THEY WONT!!!!!!!!! AND HOW ARE THE FAMILIES WHO LIVE PAY YO PAY SUPPOSE TO PAY THE BILLS I THINK THE GOVERMENT SHOULD WORK EVERYDAY ON THIS UNTIL IT IS DONE AND NIGHTS IF NEED TO BE. PEOPLE NEED TO GET PAID TO LIVE WE ARE ALL NOT AS RICH AS SOME OF THIS POLITIONS ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME VENT TO YOU. IT REALLY CAN BE FRUSTRATING AT TIMES. I LOOK FOWARD TO WATCHING WHYY AND NOW WILL LOG ON TO THE WEB FOR MY INFORMATION