PA Budget Talks Update
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: August 9, 2009
ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - State Senators are heading back to Harrisburg on Monday. But any compromise on the State budget still seems a long way off.
A couple of Senators from this region feel the budget deadlock has dragged on far too long.
When the State Senate goes back into session on Monday, Senators well be taking up a couple of legisaltive proposals designed to make sure that all Pennsylvania employees get paid even while there is a freeze on plenty of state spending. What is frustrating for many lawmakers is that right now the budget process is out of their hands even while public pressure continues to build.
State Senator John Eichelberger points out that a Senate- House Conference Committee is charged with working out the current budget issues . And while Legislators are waiting on their leadership to work out a budget deal, General Assembly Members recognize developing a balanced spending plan is very difficult . Senator John Wozniak points out that with a current deficit of a couple of billion dollars, coming up with a balanced spending plan for the state is a complicated task.
Still both Wozniak and Eichelberger say they are hearing from plenty of people on the budget deadlock. And in this part of the state, the big concern seems to be holding the line on taxes. While budget talks are scheduled to resume this week, no one is predicting a quick end to the deadlock.
When the State Senate goes back into session on Monday, Senators well be taking up a couple of legisaltive proposals designed to make sure that all Pennsylvania employees get paid even while there is a freeze on plenty of state spending. What is frustrating for many lawmakers is that right now the budget process is out of their hands even while public pressure continues to build.
State Senator John Eichelberger points out that a Senate- House Conference Committee is charged with working out the current budget issues . And while Legislators are waiting on their leadership to work out a budget deal, General Assembly Members recognize developing a balanced spending plan is very difficult . Senator John Wozniak points out that with a current deficit of a couple of billion dollars, coming up with a balanced spending plan for the state is a complicated task.
Still both Wozniak and Eichelberger say they are hearing from plenty of people on the budget deadlock. And in this part of the state, the big concern seems to be holding the line on taxes. While budget talks are scheduled to resume this week, no one is predicting a quick end to the deadlock.
