Last nite the Pa. House approved budget plan (surprise! Saves gas drillers)
"The plan, pushed forward by the Republican majority, seeks to close a $2.2 billion deficit in part by selling a portion of the state’s landmark tobacco settlement fund, expanding gaming, and pulling money from special funds that pay for things like mass transit, environmental projects, and parks.
House Republican leaders have said the plan provides an alternative to tax increases and avoids a new tax on gas drillers that they fear would harm the industry."
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/pa-house-to-vote-on-budget-plan-the-governor-calls-irresponsible-20170913.html
HARRISBURG – Marc Stier, Director of the PA Budget and Policy Center, made the following statement on the passage of the House GOP revenue plan:
"After a long debate that was mainly remarkable for the failure of House Republicans to adequately explain or defend their proposal to transfer $600 million from special funds into the General Fund, the Pennsylvania House of Representative enacted a revenue plan that, (1) includes zero recurring revenues, which means that the next fiscal year will begin with a deficit of over $1 billion, (2) is fundamentally unbalanced in that it includes many proposals that are unlikely to raise the revenues expected, including proposals that have been included in previous budgets but have never gone into effect, and (3) is a stealth cut in government spending on critical programs in public transportation, public safety, environmental protection and agriculture, small business, economic development, and other areas that are supported by the special funds the House has raided."
https://www.thirdandstate.org/