(Dec. 19, 4:30 p.m.) -- Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) told reporters late this afternoon his caucus will not accept a stopgap budget and it is now up to the House Republicans to come up with a 12-month budget without any new revenues.
House Majority Leader David Reed (R-Indiana) announced plans to consider a stopgap budget, after the House failed to pass the pension reform bill-- Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh)-- by a vote of 52 to 149.
Sen. Corman added, any new taxes are dead without pension reform.
Gov. Tom Wolf agreed in remarks to the press later that a stopgap budget is not the answer: “We still have a budget plan. It is a compromise and it is the product of a lot of good people working across the aisle to get it done.
“This is not over. We still need a budget. And we need it now. The Senate Republicans led on this – but it was a bipartisan effort. They delivered a budget –full year budget – that made wise investments in our schools and that was truly balanced.
“We cannot slide back on our commitment to our schools. We cannot slide back on our commitment to a truly balanced budget. We cannot slide back on our commitment to a full year budget.
“Let me be clear. A stop gap is not the answer. We need a full year budget.
“Let’s get back to work. All of us. Let’s get this done now.”
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