Pennsylvania: Furloughs

Tue, 06/10/2008 - 16:53

Republicans furious at Evans after furlough bill amended

HARRISBURG -- Let the budget politics begin.

Republican leadership blasted House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) for playing politics with people's lives after his committee Tuesday afternoon amended and then approved a bill that could prevent the state from furloughing nearly 25,000 "non-essential" state workers.

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Tue, 06/10/2008 - 13:33

Democrats amend, pass furlough bill; Republicans furious

The House Appropriations Committee this afternoon unexpectedly amended and then approved a bill that would allow the state to temporarily retain roughly 25,000 state employees if a budget is not passed by July 1.

It would allocate $20 million of the state's rainy day fund, a reserve designed to help during difficult economic times, to pay for the state's "non-essential" employees.

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Tue, 06/10/2008 - 09:20

General Assembly to talk furloughs today

Tuesday in Harrisburg will help decide whether the threat of furloughs will hang over budget negotiations.

State Sen. Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin County) will hold a hearing of the Senate State Government Committee to discuss Gov. Ed Rendell's recent statements that he would be forced to temporarily lay off tens of thousands of state workers earlier this year than last. The committee, which Piccola chairs, will question Naomi Wyatt, secretary of the Office of Administration.

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