10 days after deadline, Pa. budget negotiations grind on behind closed doors

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Lawmakers in Harrisburg are continuing state budget talks Wednesday, 10 days past the June 30 deadline.

A late-night House Appropriations Committee meeting was gaveled in around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and immediately went at ease. Then, with no action, it was adjourned around 1 a.m.

With talks continuing behind closed doors, minority chair Seth Grove didn’t hide his frustration as that meeting ended. The committee gaveled in again and called roll around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

“Chairman Grove?” they called.

“Like I never left,” said Grove. “I’m here.”

Legislative leaders have said getting the budget right is more important than dates and deadlines. And, as they have done for the last two weeks, they indicated they are making progress.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and party leaders are keeping closed-door conversations close to the vest, but he said leaders in the Republican-majority Senate and the Democratic-controlled House understand they will need to compromise to reach a deal.

“We all recognize that we’ve all got to compromise,” Shapiro said. “I realize that ‘compromise’ in today’s politics is maybe a word that some people don’t like to use. I think compromise is how you make progress.

“Everybody’s really focused on getting this done and getting it done in the best way for Pennsylvanians.”

Senate Republican leader Joe Pittman said while progress is being made, “nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.” He said he looks forward to working with the Democratic majority in the state House to advance all necessary components of the budget.