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Lawmakers hope to have budget in place by Thanksgiving

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania has now been without a budget for 136 days, but there’s reason for optimism as a framework has been agreed by the Governor...

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania has now been without a budget for 136 days, but there's reason for optimism as a framework has been agreed by the Governor and Republican lawmakers.

State lawmakers are hoping to have a budget in place by Thanksgiving, and are working to get that done.

Some lawmakers were told that a vote could come on the proposal as early as Tuesday to start the process of winding down the almost 5-month budget impasse.

Governor Tom Wolf addressed the state's association of student councils Friday touting the need for increased education funding.

“The truth is that Pennsylvania will never be the kind of place that can attract folks like you to come back if we continue to make our schools weaker,” he said. “We need to change that.”

With many state lawmakers in their districts today, the goal for Governor Wolf and Republican leaders in the General Assembly is to get the rank-and-file members to fall in line with the proposal.

“Not everybody is getting exactly what they wanted, but we're getting some things that are really important and among them is a historic increase in funding for our public schools,” Wolf said. “That's a big thing.”

The state's proposed sales tax, which would go from 6 percent to 7.25 percent, would be the second highest in the country, and it's a big sticking point for lawmakers, who would have to get over that to end the impasse.

“Certainly there are social service organizations, social service agencies that are hurting, they're spending reserves, and there are landlords that aren't getting paid, and vendors that aren't getting paid, so I know it's hurting and it's time to bring it to an end,” Rep. Greg Rothman, (R) – Cumberland County, said.

Republican leaders did win some concessions, like property tax relief, pension reform and liquor privatization. Details on the last two have not been made public as of yet.

“If it comes through as stated, it's historic,” Stephen Miskin, press secretary for House majority leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County), said. “You're dealing with issues that have been vexing Pennsylvania for not just a couple of years, but decades.”

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