By Associated Press - Friday, June 30, 2017

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on Pennsylvania state government’s $32 billion bipartisan spending plan (all times local):

4:40 p.m.

The main spending bill in a $32 billion bipartisan budget package is past the Pennsylvania Legislature on the state fiscal year’s final day, although lawmakers don’t know how it’ll all be funded.

People were interested in these podcasts

The House voted 173-27 on Friday, hours after the Senate voted 43-7. The package was unveiled a day earlier, after being negotiated in secret. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf supports it, but has yet to say whether he’ll sign it if lawmakers can’t figure out a spending plan.

Both chambers recessed until at least Wednesday, and lawmakers say they’ll try next week to find $2 billion-plus to cover the shortfall.

The governor’s office says spending is virtually flat under the package. Counting the amounts above the last approved budget of $31.5 billion, the increase is nearly 3 percent. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to universities is awaiting passage until lawmakers pass a revenue plan.

___

10:50 a.m.

A $32 billion bipartisan spending package has the Pennsylvania Senate’s approval on the state fiscal year’s final day, although lawmakers don’t know how it’ll be funded.

The Senate voted 43-7, and a House vote was expected later Friday. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf supports it, and lawmakers say they’ll try next week to find $2 billion-plus to cover a two-year projected shortfall.

Senate officials say it holds spending virtually flat. Using the last approved budget of $31.5 billion as a baseline, it authorizes an extra $870 million over two fiscal years above that, including $400 million going on the just-ending fiscal year’s books.

It carries more money for schools, pension obligations and services for the intellectually disabled. It demands belt-tightening across government agencies and in Medicaid, and counts on savings from a shrinking prisons population.

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.