Deadline passed, still no budget

July 1st has come and gone in Harrisburg, and there’s still no Pennsylvania budget.

July 1st has come and gone in Harrisburg, and there’s still no Pennsylvania budget.

Listen:
[audio: 090701sdpabudget.mp3]

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.