State Budget Negotiations Begin With Four Weeks Of Session Remaining
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Lawmakers have come back to the state Capitol this week to begin the marathon process of completing the state budget. Education funding is a chief priority. That's especially true after a Commonwealth Court ruling found Pennsylvania has been unconstitutionally short-changing poor schools. Governor Josh Shapiro is proposing an increase of about 567-million-dollars, or about seven percent more, for daily school operations. His budget also asks for a total of 400-million-dollars for mental health counselors, special education, anti-violence grants and removing environmental hazards in school buildings. Republicans criticize his plan for not including measures to expand school choice.
>> Other Key Issues in Budget Must be Negotiated
(Harrisburg, PA) -- Some other key issues have arisen in Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed budget. Republican lawmakers say they're going to be watching for Shapiro's proposed expansion of the property tax and rent rebate program as well as his plan to eliminate the cell phone tax while increasing the 9-1-1 surcharge on phone bills. The governor has also proposed raising the minimum wage to 15-dollars-per-hour. Governor Shapiro has also called for legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana.