Jul 5, 2008 10:30 am US/Eastern
Gov. Rendell Signs New Pa. State Budget Into Law
HARRISBURG (AP) ―
A state budget that boosts education spending and borrows for energy, infrastructure and economic development projects easily passed the state Legislature on Friday and was signed into law by a visibly pleased Gov. Ed Rendell.
"We did an awful lot in this session, an awful lot that will improve the lives of ordinary Pennsylvanians," Rendell said at an early evening bill signing ceremony in the Capitol.
The 2008-09 state budget - and a flurry of other legislation - was approved four days into the state government's new fiscal year.
The nearly $28.3 billion in spending represents an increase of about $1 billion over the just-ended fiscal year, with more than 90 percent of that increase going to education and social services.
Public schools will get an unprecedented $274 million increase, or 5.5 percent, for operations and instruction.
An additional $65 million, up 40 percent, will go to charter schools.
Rendell called it "a very good budget, a great budget indeed. I'm pleased to sign it."
Although the measure passed by wide margins in both chambers of the Legislature, some House Republicans said it would saddle the state with unsustainable debt and doled out the education dollars inequitably.
Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, said the budget relied too much on borrowing, failed to adequately restrain growth and did not cut taxes.
Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong, R-Lancaster, the Appropriations chairman, said the infrastructure needs, rising cost of construction materials and favorable interest-rate climate justified the passage of substantial new borrowing.
"It's not going to be cheaper to do any of these things next year or the year after," he said on the Senate floor.
Lawmakers expect to return in September for what will likely be a packed legislative calendar.
Senate Republicans said they will not convene the traditional lame-duck session that has previously been held in the weeks after legislative elections in even-numbered years.
Rendell said he hoped lawmakers will spend time this fall addressing the need to provide health coverage to the uninsured and to mitigate a spike in electricity customers' bills expected to occur as rate caps expire in a few years.
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