Various combinations of legislative leaders and Gov. Wolf met this week to talk about the budget impasse, but judging from public statements it was all just a rehash of what each side said and heard before.

The meetings weren’t even long enough to order pizza, let alone agree on who would buy  or even decide on toppings.  (With Gov. Wolf’s gift ban, it is likely everyone would pay for their own.)

Gov. Wolf said he’s not backing down on his proposals to provide a dramatic increase in basic school funding via a severance tax on natural gas; a reduction in property taxes; and other ideas for dealing with the ongoing state deficit without “smoke and mirrors” like the Republicans.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said Wolf’s plan to enact a natural gas severance tax will cost Pennsylvania 250,000 jobs and suggested Wolf switch from campaign mode to “governing mode.”  He thought the “smoke and mirrors” comment was insulting.

Paying members and staff of the Senate and House again came into the open this week as some legislative leaders mentioned their concerns about how much longer their funding reserves will last-- mid-September was someone’s guess, if they haven’t run out already-- and what options there are to fill that gap.

The State Treasurer’s office said they would treat each branch of government equally in terms of providing funding.  They already provide funding to pay Executive Branch state workers without a budget.

Some Republicans said they thought having the State Treasurer loan them money violated the separation of powers principle.  I guess we’ll see where they are on that along about December.

There was also scattered talk about other possible options for temporary budget relief this week, including a 3-month budget or a continuing resolution-type action to at least provide some funding at last year’s levels for a limited period of time.

The reaction to most of these suggestions was-- what would it really get us?

Despite the budget stalemate, a handful of House members decided they could still go on a week-long junket to Israel.  The members include: Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), Rep. Matthew Bradford (D-Montgomery), House Minority Whip Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Centre), Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Michael Schlossberg (D-Lehigh).

House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) canceled participation in the trip because of ongoing, if unproductive, budget talks.

Of course while all this is going on, regular citizens and businesses still paid their taxes-- $2.2 billion in July to be precise as reported by the state Department of Revenue this week. 

This rather irked some editorial writers, county and local governments, school districts and regular vendors who aren’t being paid, but are still providing social and other services to the public.

Stay tuned for what happens in week 6….

They say we're young and we don't know

We won't find out until we're grown

Well I don't know if all that's true

'Cause you got me, and baby I got you

Babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

NewsClips:

Scarnati Says Severance Tax Would Cost 250,000 Jobs

Letter: A Reasonable Severance Tax To Help Fund Clean Water

Wolf, Scarnati Underscore Differences Holding Up Budget

Wolf, Scarnati Discuss Budget Impasse On WITF

Lawmakers Consider 3-Month Budget As Stalemate Continues

Wolf: I’m Not Going To Just Roll Over On Budget

No Budget, But PA Collects $2 Billion Plus In Taxes

Bumsted: Winners, Losers In PA Budget Siege

GOP, Dems Hear Same Advice From Constituents: Hold Your Ground

Senators Back Multiyear Film Tax Incentive

8/10/2015