Budget Debate In Harrisburg
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Debate on a new state budget is on tap today in the Pennsylvania House.
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, an Allegheny County Republican, says the final version of the budget – negotiated by legislative leaders and the governor -- is not very different from the version okayed by the Senate a few weeks ago.
"We've had this proposal out, really, since the Senate passed the bill. The House-Senate proposal has been essentially the same. There's like very little surprise."
The budget bill before the House restores all of the cuts proposed by Governor Corbett for three state-related universities – Temple, Pitt and Penn State – and 14 state-owned universities, and restores about half of the governor's proposed 20-percent cuts for county-run human service programs.
It would also eliminate the Welfare Department's general assistance program.