Corbett reviewing Pa. budget ‘line by line’

Governor Tom Corbett has until July 9 to decide what to do with the Pennsylvania’s budget. 

While he was hoping he could approve the spending plan along with a public pension overhaul, that looks unlikely after the House on Tuesday tabled the pension system changes he sought.

 

Instead, the governor started a 10-day review of the $29.1 billion spending plan he received from the Legislature before the July 1 start of the new budgetary year.

Corbett is considering whether to sign the budget, veto it, or cross out certain allocations, said spokesman Jay Pagni.

“He’s scrutinizing each line … reviewing each line. Line by line,” he said.

State services won’t be affected by the budget review, Pagni said.

Corbett had signaled he would withhold his signature on the budget until lawmakers passed a pension overhaul bill.

But a vote on that measure has been delayed indefinitely.