9/13/17
by News Department on 09/13/17Budget...
Pennsylvania's House of Representatives returned to the Capitol on Monday for its first session in seven weeks, but a divided Republican majority argued over a new budget-balancing plan and provided no sign that a two-month budget stalemate will end anytime soon.
The session gave members of the House's Republican majority their first chance as a group to discuss a plan that would avoid the borrowing, casino gambling expansion and utility service tax increases that underpins a $2.2 billion revenue package the Senate approved in July.
The new House GOP plan leans heavily on siphoning money from off-budget accounts that support public transportation systems and environmental cleanups and improvements.
House Republican backers insist the money can be diverted without affecting the programs, but the Wolf administration has contradicted that. The plan would avoid raising taxes, other than extending Pennsylvania's 6 percent sales tax to third-party sales in online marketplaces.
A vote could occur as early as Tuesday.
