PathWays PA Policy Blog

Unfortunately, eventhough a budget was passed and signed weeks ago, funding for state-related universities, museums, and hospitals will not be released until the state passes the table games legislation. However, this will be the last budget alert until something new occurs. In an effort to improve future alerts, we have created a brief survey . Please take a few minutes and let us know what you thought of our Budget Alerts and how we may be able to improve them. Also, please stay turned, as next year’s budget is already right around the corner. More Work to Be Done: Legalization of Table Games After the Governor signed the $27.8 billion budget on Oct. 9, lawmakers had yet to vote on a proposal to allow table games at slots parlors . Revenue from table games is projected to reach $200 million this fiscal year, which is needed to help balance the state budget. Universities, museums, and hospitals have been allotted $730 million in the budget, but that money has been held...

We are continuing this budget alert for the time being to keep readers updated on the ongoing debate on the table games legislation, which affects the final budget, as well as information on the disbursement of public funds. PathWays PA would especially like to thank all of our readers for their support and feedback on our alerts. We are particularly grateful for everyone’s efforts to urge legislators to pass a fair, responsible budget. In an effort to improve future alerts, we have created a brief survey . Please take a few minutes and let us know what you thought of our Budget Alerts and how we may be able to improve them. Also, please stay turned, as next year’s budget is already right around the corner. Budget Payments Now that we finally have a state budget, many service providers, school, organizations, and others are wondering when they will start to receive payments for services provided during the impasse (and for some, services provided since April). Earlier t...

PA has a budget! Pennsylvania’s budget impasse finally ended last Friday night when Governor Rendell signed the three bills (taxes, spending, and the fiscal code) necessary to complete the budget. The final step, passage of legislation to approve table games at casinos and then payment of “non-preferred” items is scheduled to happen later this week (please see “More to Be Done” section below for more information). We would like to thank our legislators for finally coming together to end the budget impasse, but we also urge them to ensure that this impasse does not happen again. PathWays PA would especially like to thank all of our readers for their support and feedback on our alerts. We are particularly grateful for everyone’s efforts to urge legislators to pass a fair, responsible budget. In an effort to improve future alerts, we have created a brief survey . Please take a few minutes and let us know what you thought of our Budget Alerts and how we may be able to improve...

Budget Update Last night, the House passed a budget bill, House Bill 1416 , which is now being reviewed by the Senate. This new bill is $34.78 million less than a budget approved by the Senate on Tuesday. There is cautious optimism that the budget impasse may actually be coming to its end (but remember we have unfortunately felt this way before). The House also approved a $1.7 billion revenue bill that will pay for the budget plan and sent it to the Governor for his signature. However, many things still remain unresolved, including, is the potential legalization of poker, blackjack and other table games at slot-machine casinos. For the latest news on the budget crisis, be sure to visit the PathWays PA Policy Blog . Two Important Events Today Philadelphia Rally - 12:00 at the Municipal Services Building, JFK Blvd between Broad and 15th. Harrisburg Press Conference - 1:30 State Capitol, Main Rotunda

Budget Update The House was in session today but many sticking points remain , including natural gas drilling on state lands, table games in casinos, and a welfare bill. These and other issues continue to hold up the completion of the state budget on the eve of the 100th day since the state's fiscal year began. For the latest news on the budget crisis be sure to visit the PathWays PA Policy Blog . DAY 100 WITHOUT A PENNSYLVANIA STATE BUDGET… …and there are more than 100 ways Pennsylvania citizens are being harmed… Join us as we mark 100 days and protest the budget impasse! Thursday October 8, 2009 NOON Municipal Services Building, Philadelphia JFK Blvd between Broad and 15th Featured Speakers: Lynne Cutler, Women's Opportunity Resource Center David Fair, United Way of Southeastern PA Sharmain Matlock-Turner, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition Matthew Teter, Calcutta House Shelly Yanoff, Public Citizens for Children and Youth Sponsored by ...

Tomorrow marks 100 days that Pennsylvania has been without a budget. We are now in the second quarter of the state’s fiscal year. For many counties, non-profits, schools, hospitals, and many other organizations that provide critical programs and services, it has also been an entire quarter since they have received state funding. While the Senate passed a budget bill yesterday, until a budget is passed by both House and Senate and signed by Governor Rendell, counties, non-profits, schools, hospitals, and many other organizations will continue to struggle. As we wait for a signed budget, preschools and other pre-kindergarten programs continue to shut their doors, along with child care centers and many other state programs. If you work for one of these organizations, or if the services you rely on have been cut, please tell your story! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper , or tell your story to PathWays PA . We will share these stories on our blog and in our ...

Sunday, October 3rd (which is over three months after the constitutionally mandated deadline) is the new deadline set by Governor Rendell for a final budget . The House and Senate are scheduled to resume voting sessions today and they plan to keep working until there is a budget, but many call the Sunday deadline the best-case scenario. While there may be an agreement and a new tentative deadline, until a budget is passed and signed, counties, non-profits, schools, hospitals, and many other organizations will continue to struggle to make ends meet without funding. As we wait for a signed budget, preschools and other pre-kindergarten programs continue to shut their doors, along with child care centers and many other state programs. If you work for one of these organizations or if the services you rely on have been cut, please tell your story! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper , or tell your story to PathWays PA . We will share these stories on our blog and in ou...

There may be an agreement but until a budget is passed and signed, counties, non-profits, schools, hospitals, and many other organizations will continue to struggle to make ends meet without funding. As we wait for a signed budget, preschools and other pre-kindergarten programs continue to shut their doors, along with child care centers and many other state programs. If you work for one of these organizations or if the services you rely on have been cut, please tell your story! Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or tell your story to PathWays PA . We will share these stories on our blog and in our e-newsletters. While there is much hope that we have reached the end of the budget impasse, there are no guarantees that this is the final version. Please continue to contact legislators and remind them of the programs that are important to Pennsylvania’s families, like the Industry Partnerships, Child Care Works, and Adult Education, and the need for funds to be di...

It is now day 80 of the budget impasse, and there has been a breakthrough. Although not everyone is on board, Governor Rendell last night held a press conference to announce his support of a modified version of the “three-caucus” budget that has been making the rounds since September 10. While details are still emerging, it is expected that the budget will include: $27.9 billion in spending – this is $400 million less in spending than in the last fiscal year. Without federal stimulus dollars, the budget would be about $2 billion less than last year. Increased business taxes and cigarette tax rates (and the expansion of the cigarette tax to cigarillos) Extension of the sales tax to theater and concert tickets Table games at casinos Increased education spending of about $300 million This version of the budget is expected to be debated next week in the House and Senate, with possible passage by the end of the week (though it will more likely continue into the week of September 28). On...

A possible compromise, but is it the right compromise for Pennsylvania? While we are the only state without a budget and many are in desperate need of state funding, it is critical that we ensure the final budget is one that works for Pennsylvania. If you are looking for a comparison of some of the line items in the three-caucus proposal please see the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center's website . The latest proposal, expected to be at a funding level of $27.9 billion, is said to raise $1.2 billion in what the leaders are calling "recurring revenue" and $2.1 billion in one-time revenue sources. New revenues sources are to come from the combination of a hike on the tax on cigarettes, legalization of casino table games, and higher taxes on businesses. While the proposal increases education funding by $300 million many other programs are facing cuts, like Pre-K Counts, CHIP, and Adult and Family Literacy. As we wait for a budget, preschools and other pre-kindergarte...