Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) told the media Monday afternoon budget negotiations with the House and Gov. Wolf are “closer than we’ve been in some time,” but “nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.”
He said 10 or more pieces of legislation need to move to implement a budget agreement, including-- a gaming bill, that has to be negotiated; a liquor bill that includes cash register convenience for beer and wine sales in stores; and the Tax Code, Fiscal Code, Administrative Code, Education Code bills and the rest.
On gaming, he said the Senate is considering authorizing video gaming terminals, but only as part of a complete package.
Sen. Corman said the number one goal of his caucus is to balance the budget, not only for this year, but next year as well.
“We’re not going to the taxpayers for a third straight year with a tax increase,” he said, noting the General Assembly raised taxes last year and plans to raise taxes again this year.
He went on to say if you use a “bunch of one-time sources,” like taking money from special funds, that still leaves a deficit at the end of the fiscal year and that does not meet their number one goal..
Sen. Corman said the outline of a budget plan they are discussing does not include a natural gas severance tax, but substituted eliminating the Sales Tax exemption for third party, commercial warehousing.
“There is no pain-free way of doing this. We have a hole we have to fill and we have to do it,” Sen. Corman said.
(Based on a Periscope app webcast of Sen. Corman’s remarks by PLS Reporter.)
