Pennsylvania may have a budget agreement. And if they suspend rules for actually giving time to read the proposal Gov. Ed Rendell could possibly sign a budget on time for the first time in his two-terms as governor. Funny thing about this budget, though, it includes $850 million from the feds for Medicare that Congress hasn’t approved yet and if such state aid for Medicaid is approved, PA ma only get $300 million.
As for New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie seems to have gotten his way with a $29.4 billion budget headed to his desk this afternoon, ahead of the same Thursday deadline as Pennsylvania.
The difference between these two states is that Christie had to fight hard for his cuts while Rendell is still working on the premise that tax increases and money from Washington will save the day.
As one Pennsylvania House legislator I spoke to explained, Keystone state lawmakers are watching Christie carefully because if his no new taxes pledge is actually politically successful, folks across the border are going to have to start whistling a different tune.