PA Lawmakers' Agenda Is Long As Days Become Few
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Pennsylvania lawmakers are scheduled to recess for the summer at the end of the month, but, as usual, it appears final action on the budget and any other major issues will come down to the final days before they leave town.
In addition to a budget with a deficit well above a billion dollars, lawmakers are still wrestling with legislation to reform alcohol sales.
There was some thought that the Senate Appropriations Committee last week might vote on a compromise bill that would relax restrictions on beer and wine sales, but Erik Arneson, spokesman for Senate majority Republicans, says that didn't happen:
"There was a lot of discussion about alcohol sales – liquor sales – in Pennsylvania in the Senate… but I can't report any tangible progress toward a conclusion at this point."
Likewise, the spokesman for House majority Republicans says members still had questions, so an anticipated House debate on a plan to reform the pensions of future state and public school employees never materialized.