State Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman has sent a letter to his Democratic counterpart in the state house saying that there is still more that needs to be done to end the budget impasse.
In his letter to State Representative Matthew Bradford, Pittman said that several other pieces of legislation must be enacted in order for House Bill 611 to pass and head to Governor Shapiro’s desk, and many appropriations contained in the House budget need implementation language before they can be funded. Otherwise, some payment requests could be returned because of a lack of spending authority. He also mentioned that some items in the budget, like the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success private school scholarship program, do not have adequate standards or guidance to spend the money that has been appropriated. That program has been the sticking point in the impasse, as the Senate approved the program from Governor Josh Shapiro, but the Governor said he would veto the plan if the House were to pass the budget.
Pittman appeared on Indiana in the Morning to talk about the letter. He said he doesn’t believe the rumor that Shapiro planned on “folding” from the start and that he shares the idea of empowering parents.
Pittman adds another reason for the impasse is due to all the new faces in Harrisburg.
Pittman says that he wants to know when the House will vote on any remaining budget implementation legislation, as “the Senate sees little value in returning to session and allowing House Bill 611 to reach the Governor’s Desk without addressing the remaining work needed to implement a budget.”
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