Pa.’fiscal code’ legislation, including $45 million for Philly schools, incomplete

Republican lawmakers are insisting Pennsylvania’s budget for this year was delivered on time, but a key companion bill called the fiscal code is missing.

And there’s no timetable to send it to the governor.

It’s the state House’s turn to take a vote on the fiscal code, a piece of legislation that supports the budget. The legislation includes a $45 million funding relief package for Philadelphia schools.

But the Speaker of the House already gavelled the chamber out for the summer.

House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin says he’s not sure when — or if — lawmakers will reconvene before September.

“We have to take a look,” he said. “We don’t know if there are any ramifications, and that’s what we are going to confirm and check.”

Senate Republicans say there’s no negative impact if the fiscal code isn’t finalized right away.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s office, however, is warning that the effect might be a $235 million cut in available funds if a fiscal code isn’t passed before late September.

House Democratic spokesman Bill Patton adds that there may be other consequences.

“The fiscal code is 57 pages of arcane legislative language,” he said Monday. “It would not surprise me if there are a number of other problems that have yet to be discovered by not getting this bill done on time.”