Analyst: DNC In Phila Could Help Avoid Another PA Budget Stalemate
by Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG (CBS) -- Pennsylvania lawmakers return to the state capitol Monday with a budget deadline looming at the end of the month. A prominent analyst thinks the upcoming Democratic Convention in Philadelphia may increase the chances of avoiding another marathon impasse.
The budget for the current fiscal year wasn't completed until earlier this spring. Many Harrisburg observers expect another long budget battle.
But Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Terry Madonna thinks there's a different dynamic this year: political conventions, particularly the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, putting pressure on everyone involved to get it done, or at least have temporary funding in place.
"In don't think, first of all, Democratic leaders and the Democratic governor, who will be the host governor, want to have the Democrats meet in Philadelphia the last week in July with lots of complaints about a budget not being completed," Madonna said.
Ultimately, Madonna believes the governor will have to be more realistic with regard to his tax proposals, noting there has never been an income tax hike in an election year in modern Pennsylvania history.