PA budget agreement reached

    On Friday night in Harrisburg, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that he has reached an agreement with legislative leaders on the framework for a state budget. The Governor called it a fair and responsible agreement, and he apologized to Pennsylvanians for any inconvenience caused by the budget impasse.

    On Friday night in Harrisburg, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that he has reached an agreement with legislative leaders on the framework for a state budget. The Governor called it a fair and responsible agreement, and he apologized to Pennsylvanians for any inconvenience caused by the budget impasse. The state’s new fiscal year began on July 1.

    The General Assembly still must vote on the proposal and send it to the Governor for his signature.

    WPVI reports that the nearly $28 Billion spending plan for the state will expand gambling in Pennsylvania. Table games such as Blackjack and Poker would be allowed at Pennsylvania’s existing licensed casinos. This now means New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware will be competing with full service casinos in the future.

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    The state budget agreement comes just one day after the legislature approved Philadelphia’s request for a sales tax hike and gave the city permission to defer payments into its workers’ pension plan. These actions provide additional revenues for the city to balance its current budget.

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