Most Pennsylvania lawmakers were absent from the state Capitol today, five days into the new budget year without a state government spending agreement in place.
Leaders were hoping negotiations would wrap up over the coming days and the House announced voting sessions were scheduled through Friday. The state House, whose schedule is also controlled by majority Republicans, planned to return to session Wednesday afternoon and also posted public notice of floor sessions to start Thursday and Friday mornings. it was possible that the Senate also will return to the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon and that more details would follow. Discussions about what is expected to be a roughly $42 billion spending plan have centered on a proposal for additional outlays for public schools that is backed by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.