Pa. House Prepares to Vote on GOP Budget Plan

Budget negotiations with the state Senate and Governor still ahead

The House Republicans' state budget proposal is nearing a final vote in the chamber, a major step in the process ahead of negotiations with the state Senate and governor.

The House vote was expected to occur Tuesday afternoon, and with Republicans in firm control of the chamber it's expected to pass easily.

The $27.3 billion spending plan makes deep cuts to education and human services and raises no new taxes as the state copes with a massive deficit caused by the economic downturn and loss of federal stimulus money.

A House Republican spokesman says the Tuesday voting will begin with amendments to an unemployment compensation bill, then the budget. Because the budget bill will wasn't amended Monday, the chamber's 24-hour rule doesn't apply.

Copyright The Associated Press
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