State Budget Plan Begins To Emerge From Behind Closed Doors
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Details of a $32.7 billion state budget package are emerging as top Republican lawmakers reveal details of an election-year plan they negotiated behind closed doors with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
The no-new-taxes spending package unveiled Tuesday could see floor votes in Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled House and Senate by week's end. The new fiscal year begins July 1.
The package increases authorized spending by 2 percent over the current year's enacted budget of $32 billion.
All told, more money would go to public schools, social services, pensions, universities and early-childhood education programs, plus $60 million in an off-budget grant program for school safety spurred by February's high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Meanwhile, House officials say about $800 million in one-time cash is being counted on to cover Medicaid costs off-budget.
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