May 04, 2012
Tags: budget, closures, facility, Media, Medicaid, Pat, pensions, Quinn
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Gov.
Pat Quinn went into hiding from the media this week after holding back-to-back news conferences where he announced
Medicaid and public pension changes last week.
Quinn’s weekly public appearance schedule for April 29 to May 5 consisted of two events in Chicago and three here. The itinerary for four events listed: “There will be no media availability following this event.” Quinn avoided a gaggle of statehouse and downstate reporters at the other appearance.
“We’re on a very tight schedule tomorrow as we focus on pension and Medicaid solutions. I’m sure we’ll have a media avail soon in next few days,” Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said Wednesday when asked why Quinn wasn’t scheduling any media availabilities.
Quinn refused to answer questions from reporters Thursday as he walked into the loading dock of the statehouse, but promised a news conference without saying when or where.
May 04, 2012
Tags: budget, corbett, costa, deficit, fiscal, independent, Office
Higher education likely to be targeted for increasing funding
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — Higher than anticipated revenue for April leaves Pennsylvania with a smaller deficit heading into the two months when the new state budget will be hashed out.
Though all projections indicate a revenue deficit at the end of the year, the state will be in better shape than Gov. Tom Corbett’s mid-year forecast of $719 million. The slight change of fortune has led to lawmakers calling for increased spending in the proposed fiscal 2012-13 budget, though Corbett urged caution this week.
Democrats slammed the governor for underestimating the state’s revenue.
“There is now no question that there will be far more available dollars to restore key budget lines that support job creation, education, safety net programs and investments for the future,” said Senate
Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-
Allegheny.
Corbett on Wednesday said the state is still facing a deficit.
Lawmakers plan to add money into the budget for higher education, where Corbett called for significant cuts for the second consecutive year.
Corbett has called for a 20 percent cut to the State System of Higher Education, which operates 14 colleges in Pennsylvania including East Stroudsburg, West Chester and Shippensburg.
The governor’s budget also includes a proposed 30 percent state funding cut for three of the four state-related universities — Penn State, Pittsburgh and Temple — though those schools are more than 90 percent privately funded.
May 04, 2012
Tags: budget, care, health, Medicaid
By Matt Willoughby | Civitas Institute
RALEIGH — Medicaid services not required by the federal government but approved by the Legislature in years past cost $4.4 billion in 2010-2011.
May 02, 2012
Tags: 13, budget, care, cross, fiscal, fy13, health, Madigan, pensions, Quinn, year
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois taxpayer-subsidized health care for state retirees could end with legislation moving through the Illinois House.
Read the full story
May 01, 2012
Tags: budget, hikes, maryland, session, special, tax, unions
By Len Lazarick | Maryland Reporter
ANNAPOLIS — Pressure is mounting for a special session to raise the taxes that failed to pass as the Legislature adjourned April 9 and “fix” a “doomsday” budget with cuts designed to scare up votes for tax hikes.
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