Pa. House GOP passes spending plan

First Posted:

MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

HARRISBURG — Majority Republicans in the Pennsylvania House sent their state budget proposal to the Senate on Tuesday over the loud objections of Democrats during a marathon floor debate.
The chamber voted 109-92 to approve a $27.3 billion spending plan and move the process closer to negotiations among legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Corbett in the weeks ahead.
At least 74 members spoke on the bill, which Speaker Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, said might constitute a record. All Democrats, and two Philadelphia Republicans, voted against it.
The vigorous debate divided the chamber sharply along party lines, with Republicans pushing their proposal as a responsible approach amid a trying economic climate and Democrats predicting dire consequences from wide cuts in government programs.
The budget plan has the same total spending figure that Corbett, a Republican, has proposed. Like the governor’s budget, it also would not raise additional taxes. The House GOP plan, however, dedicates less money to the Department of Public Welfare to restore money for education and makes other changes to specific line-items.
Democrats listed cut after cut to education, health care, economic development, environmental projects, human services and other programs, saying the GOP proposal should be expanded to tap into a $500 million-plus windfall in recent state revenue collections.
Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said there were tax breaks for rich corporations but none for the middle class.
“Under this budget, the needy get punished and the greedy get rewarded,” Dermody said.
Rep. Tim Briggs of Montgomery County was one of many to warn of harm to Pennsylvania hospitals, schools and universities.
Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, said cuts to early childhood programs were “the epitome of penny-wise and pound foolish.”
“Investments in our children over time pay for themselves and then go on to pay dividends,” Mundy said.