HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawmakers are back in the Pennsylvania Capitol amid a three-month-old budget stalemate, but optimism about an evolving proposal to fill a $2.2 billion revenue gap isn’t translating into action. Rank-and-file members of the House Republican majority complained Monday afternoon about imposing the state’s 6 percent sales tax onto business-to-business storage and warehousing. Rep. Rob Kauffman of Franklin County says it targets one of the biggest employers in his Interstate 81 corridor district.
No votes are planned. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s office and top lawmakers continue to negotiate details behind closed doors. The revenue package otherwise leans heavily on borrowing, one-time fund transfers and authorizing 10 more casinos around the state. Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a $32 billion budget bill June 30, about a 3 percent increase, but haven’t agreed on how to fully fund it.
