Pennsylvania budget passes but hinges on federal support

The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a budget bill and sent it to Governor Rendell’s desk last night, six hours before the deadline. At 6 p.m., the House of Representatives passed the budget with a 117-84 vote.

The $28.05 billion compromise that top Republicans and Democrats hammered out earlier this week is headed to Governor Rendell’s desk on time – a fact that triggered back slapping for House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and other lawmakers.

“This is a solid budget that is balanced and on time,” he said. “And I have to tell you, there is a lot of pride in getting our work done on time this year. I think it really matters in communities – there were a lot of people who were dislocated last year. And I just think the work we’ve done is solid.”

But there’s still more work to do.

Lawmakers need to pass a revenue package, as well as the other bills that make up the full spending plan. Those details still worry many lawmakers, like Berks County Republican Sam Rohrer. He argues that it’s irresponsible to bank on $850 million in federal assistance that may not be approved by Congress.

“Mr. Speaker it is not a legitimate budget, under any set of circumstances, under any set of legitimate budgeting,” Rohrer told the assembly. “It is not balanced, we know that. You cannot offer a balanced budget when you have at least $850 million in revenue that depends on a fickle body in Washington.”

Governor Rendell says he’ll wait to sign all the measures at once, but commends legislators for reaching across the aisle and avoiding the partisan wrangling that tied up last year’s budget process until October.