House Votes To Approve Largest Bond Issue In State's History

The House Monday took final action on two bills which would authorize $6.2 billion in new state bonds be issued, the largest bond issue ever for the Commonwealth.
           Why isn't there a similar commitment to passing a reasonable Marcellus Shale drilling fee and funding billions of dollars of much needed green infrastructure repair and upgrades?
            Senate Bill 1310 (Gordner-R-Columbia) providing for the repayment of monies loaned from the federal government to pay unemployment compensation, including authorization for $4.5 billion in state bonds to pay the debt, the largest in state history, was amended yet again "to clear up internal inconsistencies" on the House Floor on Third Consideration, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 193 to 1.
            The bill must return to the Senate for a concurrence vote.  A summary and new House Fiscal Note are available for this bill.
            Senate Bill 1054 (Corman-R-Centre) providing for a $1.7 billion increase in the Capital Budget debt limit was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 119 to 75, but only after the Speaker held the vote open for a little longer than normal.  The Governor signed the bill into law.  A summary and new House Fiscal Note are available for this bill.
            Interesting turn of events for the most conservative Governor, House and Senate in decades.
            NewsClips: House Returns Unemployment Comp Bill To Senate
                                Capital Budget Funds Approved For Bridges, Roads
                                House Authorizes $1.7 Billion In New Borrowing


12/26/2011

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