Pennsylvania Lawmakers Set To Approve Partial State Budget

REPORTING LIVE IN WASHINGTONTOWNSHIP, CLEVE BRYAN, CBS3EYE-WITNESS NEWS.ALL RIGHT CLEVE, THANK YOU.AMID THE PANDEMIC INPENNSYLVANIA, LAWMAKERS INHARRISBURG ARE SET TO TAKE ANUNPRECEDENTED STEP TO APPROVE PAVERY A PARTIAL STATE BUDGETTHROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH.EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER HOWARDMONROE IS LIVE IN CENTER CITYWITH THIS VERY USUAL TACTIC.Reporter: HI JESSICA THESTATE LAWMAKERS SAY WITH THEUNCERTAINTY WITH THE CORONAVIRUSTHAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE STATEBUDGET THIS IS THE BEST WAY TOKEEP PROGRAMS FUNDED ANDGOVERNMENT FUNDED.THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE OFPENNSYLVANIA REPRESENTATIVES INA VOTE OF 103-99 YESTERDAY.ALL DEMOCRATS AND SIXREPUBLICANS VOTED NO.THE TEMPORARY $25.8 BILLIONPACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE NEWTAXES AND MAINTAINS CURRENTSPENDING LEVELS.OFFICIALS IN THE HOUSE ANDSENATE SAY THIS IS A NECESSARYPROCESS SO BUDGET MAKERS CANASSESS HOW BUDGET RELATEDSHUTDOWNS WILL IMPACT TAXCOLLECTIONS.THEY ARE ALSO WAITING TO SEE IFTHE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SENDSMORE AID TO STATES.THE INDEPENDENT FISCAL OFFICEESTIMATES THE CORONAVIRUSCREATED A $5 BILLION BUDGETSHORTFALL OVER THE NEXT TWOFISCAL YEARS.PHILADELPHIA REPRESENTATIVEJORDAN HARRIS SAYS THAT THISSTOP-GAP BUDGET FALLS SHORT INEVERY WAY.WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUCKLEDOWN AND WORK TOGETHER TO FIND ASOLUTION THAT STILL FUNDS ALL OFTHE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY,EDUCATION, HUMAN SERVICES,PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, ANDTHE LIKE.AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT.BUT WE SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR FIVEMONTHS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATIONOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS.WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT RIGHTNOW.NOW, DEMOCRATS ANDREPUBLICANS BOTH VOTED FOR THISBILL IN THE SENATEAPPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE LASTNIGHT.IT HEADS TO THE FULL SENATELATER THIS WEEK.