Outside the ring, U. waits for state budget

After engaging in a war of words for months, warring Pennsylvania lawmakers began to throw punches this week in the ongoing state budget battle. As the state budget crisis enters day 25, state legislators continue to wrestle with sticky tax and spending issues. Since the Commonwealth lost the authority to spend money on July 1 in the absence of new budget, thousands of state workers and welfare recipients have gone without paychecks. But, the process moved forward slightly last Friday as the House of Representatives finally considered a $2.8 million tax increase measure on the House floor. The bill was defeated, 116-85. "I think a tax increase is inevitable if we're going to be repsonsible about our oblgation," House Education Committee Chairperson Representative Ronald Cowell (D-Allegheny) said earlier this month. All 85 votes in favor of the tax package came from House Democrats -- not a single Republican voted for the proposal. Following the vote, a Republican staffer took a photograph of the House's electronic vote board -- an action strictly prohibited by House rules -- and was promptly besieged by several Democrats attempting to recover the potentially incriminating film. In the onslaught, Representative Herman Mihalich (D-Westmoreland Co.) was nearly knocked to the floor. As he recovered, he came up swinging, and allegedly socked Representive Dennis Leh (R-Berks). "That certainly was a classic case of how patience wears thin," University lobbyist James Shada said Tuesday. Shada, assistant vice president for commonwealth relations, said he is still patiently waiting out the crisis and has not been tempted to use his fists as he continues to lobby on behalf on the University with state lawmakers. "I like most legislators," Shada said. "I have some other people I'd like to punch . . . " While Shada's temper may be under control, some at the University might target Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey. Casey originally proposed the $18.6 million cut in the University's state appropriation last February that sent administrators scrambling to Harrisburg to reverse the proposal. A successful House spending plan was later passed that bettered Casey's proposal by $13 million, removing roughly 75% of the proposed cuts while leaving a suggested cut of $5 million. Shada said that figure has since remained fairly constant. "We certainly have heard some encouraging words from time to time, but I haven't seen anything in writing," Shada said. While still hammering out tax and spending plans behind closed doors, senior state lawmakers said this week that an end to the budget crisis is near, and many said several said they expect a solution in the next week.