December 8, 2015

House Republicans Pass Their Budget Setting Up Showdown With Other 3 Caucuses, Gov. Wolf

By a largely party-line vote of 115 to 86, House Republicans passed House Bill 1460 (Adolph-R- Delaware), their version of a General Fund budget setting up a showdown with the other three legislative caucuses and Gov. Wolf.
PA Legislative Services: Senate Appropriations Committee just set an off the floor meeting for today on House Republican budget bill-- HB 1460.
The $30.2 billion plan trims the framework increase in education from $350 million to $150 million, including $215 million less for basic education, $25 million less for pre-K programs, $5 million less for Head Start, $20 million less for special education.
Republicans would pay for their budget by authorizing online gaming-- $120 million; $150 million in tobacco tax increase (taxing e-cigarettes and roll your own); $24 million in one-time online gaming license fees; legalizing slot machines at off-track betting parlors and airports; and for the first time tax all state lottery winnings.  
New money totals $309 million in all.  The House has not yet passed the bills to generate this revenue.
Click Here for a copy of the House Republican budget spreadsheet for House Bill 1460.