State Budget Time Line
FY 2009-10
Summary of Budget Process
January 6: Lt. Governor Scarnati holds budget meeting with leaders. February 6: Governor Rendell presents $29 Billion state budget. February 17 - March 3: House Appropriations Committee budget hearings. March 18: House Republicans meet with Senate leaders on Rendell budget. March 25: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. April 1: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. April 7: House Republican leaders meet with Senate Republican leaders to discuss budget. April 22: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. April 29: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. May 4: Chairman Evans introduces Rendell budget proposal -- House Bill 1416. May 6: State Senate passes $27.3 Billion budget -- SB 850 -- by a vote of 30-20. May 6: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. May 13: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. May 21-22: House Appropriations Committee budget hearings on Senate Bill 850. June 2: Chairman Civera calls for a budget bill to be voted on the floor. Request denied by Chairman Evans. June 3: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. June 8: House Appropriations Committee votes down Senate Bill 850 along party lines (20-14). June 11: Governor presents budget update. Adds $387 Million in new spending to FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10 budgets. June 16: Governor proposes $1.5 Billion income tax increase (16-plus percent hike). June 17: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. June 17: Chairman Civera calls for a budget bill to be voted on the floor. Request denied by Chairman Evans. June 17: Governor announces $500 Million in unspecified “proposed” cuts to FY 2009-10 Budget proposal. June 22: House and Senate Democrat leaders join governor’s call for PIT tax increase. June 24: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. June 24: Chairman Civera calls for a budget bill to be voted on the floor. Request denied by Chairman Evans. o oor June 25: Chairman Civera files a Discharge Resolution on both HB 1416 and SB 850. June 25: Leaders meet with Governor Rendell on the budget. June 26: Governor Rendell releases proposed budget “cuts” totalling $500 Million
State Budget Time Line
FY 2009-10
Summary of Budget Process
June 29 - 30: Leaders meet with Rendell Administration at the Governor’s Mansion. June 30: Budget deadline passes. No Budget in place. July 1: Four Caucuses meet to discuss budget. July 6: Leaders meet with Rendell Administration to discuss budget. July 9: House Democrats recess the House for the weekend without action on the budget. July 9: House Republicans hold press conference demanding budget action. conf July 10: House Republicans unveil “No-Tax-Increase Budget.” “No-T July 13: House Democrats amend governor’s budget in appropriations to include new $29.1 billion spending plan. Both SB 850 and HB 1416 (as amended) are moved to the House floor. July 16: House votes down House Republicans’ $27.3 billion no-tax-increase budget. July 17: House passes House Democrats’ $29.1 billion budget proposal along near party lines. Plan moves to Senate. July 20: Senate amends HB 1416 as approved by the House. Reduces spending down to $27.1 Billion. July 21: House votes to non-concur on HB 1416 as amended by the Senate. Bill moves to conference committee. July 27 -28: Conference Committee members named. July 29-30: Conference Committee meets. July 30: Conference Committee suspends meetings. Governor Rendell calls for the House to pass SB 850 without amendment so it may serve as a “bridge” budget. August 3: House votes amendments to SB 850. Rep. Kotik withdraws bipartisan amendment developed by House Republicans and refuses to allow Chairman Civera to offer the amendment. August 4: House passes SB 850 without amendment. August 5: Governor Rendell signs SB 850. Vetoes $13 Billion in funds from the bill. August 19: Chairman Civera introduces a new budget proposal in the House -- House Bill 1943. This budget bill mirrors the amendment crafted by House Republicans and offered by Rep. Kotik to SB 850 in early August. This amendment was withdrawn and Chairman Civera was blocked from offering it. August 19: Senate Republicans attempt veto override of Rendell vetoes from SB 850. Senate Democrats -- with the exception of Sen. Boscola -- vote against the override. September 1: House Democrats reconvene the Conference Committee after a month-long suspension. September 1: Republican Leader Sam Smith presents Compromise Budget proposal to the Conference Committee. The $27.5 Billion, no-tax-increase plan was introduced as House Bill 1943 on August 19 by Appropriations Chairman Civera. September 11: State Senate leaders and House Democrats announce $27.9 Billion budget agreement. House Republicans oppose the proposal because it spends too much and increases taxes. Governor Rendell opposes the plan too. He proposes more taxes and more spending.
State Budget Time Line
FY 2009-10
Summary of Budget Process
September 11-18: Senate Leaders and House Democrat Leaders meet with Rendell Administration to work on “three caucus budget agreement” in effort to gain the governor’s support. House Republicans do not participate as they oppose the spending level and new taxes in the proposed agreement. September 18: Senate Leaders, House Democrat Leaders and Governor Rendell announce “budget agreement.” Few details made available on the specifics of the spending plan. The agreement would spend a reported $27.9 Billion and would increase several different taxes. September 28: Ten days after announcing the budget agreement, Governor Rendell calls on legislative leaders to have the budget finalized and to his desk by Sunday, October 4. Still provides no details on the plan. October 2: House Democrats vote to approve $1 Billion in new and increased taxes through HB 1531. Tax plans is not consi consistent with agreement reached with Senate and Governor Rendell on September 18. House Republicans vote against the tax increase. October 5: House Democrats convene Conference Committee but Senate leaders do not attend. Senate Republicans announce plans to introduce and run their own budget (and related bills). October 6: Senate passes budget bill (SB 1085) and related legislation. October 6: House Democrats dissolve the Conference Committee on HB 1416. October 6-7: House and Senate agree on tax code bill. Bill passes the House (102-96) and Senate (35-14). October 7: House passes $27.8 Billion budget bill (HB1416) by a vote of 107-93. f October 9: Senate and House approve Fiscal Code (HB1614) by votes of 35-14 and 106-92, respectively. October 9: Senate passes $27.8 Billion budget bill (HB1416) by a vote of (42-7). October 9: Governor signs $27.8 Billion budget.