Pennsylvania Legislators Vacation

Pennsylvania legislators are definitely in "vacation" mode.

Republican House leaders had said members would work one more week –

Tackle pension reform and some other issues –

Before taking a summer break until mid-September.

The Philadelphia school district was relieved.

It's facing an 81-million dollar budget deficit –

That could mean teacher layoffs –

And delay the start of the new school year.

The state Senate had passed a cigarette tax bill to fill the budget hole –

But it was stuck in the House.

When members returned Monday –

They were supposed to spend the week working on that – and pension reform.

Now House GOP leaders say some members are already on vacation –

And can't - or won't - come back.

So – summer break starts after Monday's meeting.

Forget pension reform.

As for Philadelphia –

House Speaker Sam Smith and Majority Leader Mike Turzai say –

No worries.

Governor Corbett should just give the school district a cash advance –

And they'll deal with the problem next month.

We should probably be used to this.

Pennsylvania's lawmakers have consistently failed to tackle difficult – important – issues.

Why would we suddenly expect anything different – especially during the summer?