PA. Repubs STILL blocking Phila's ability to raise tobacco tax to keep their schools open

[JPZenger]

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/07/philadelphias_ask_for_a_school.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Corbett told the Phila legislators that he would block their attempt to authorize Phila. increasing their cigarette taxes within the city unless those legislators first voted for his pension cuts. Now, the House Republicans are blocking the bill without providing any reason.

Excerpt:

"Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's hope of getting a $2-a-pack cigarette tax to keep class sizes from rising to 41 and preventing 1,300 teacher layoffs in that city's schools still remains unfulfilled. Democratic lawmakers made a passionate, yet unsuccessful push on Tuesday evening during a House Rules Committee meeting to get the authorization for the city to impose that tax into a budget-related fiscal code that the House will act on today.

Under Nutter's watchful eye, the committee defeated by a party-line vote this latest, and likely last, effort to address this issue that has added to the legislative drama playing out before the summer recess.

Gov. Tom Corbett threw another plot line into the budget soap opera on Monday by announcing he was holding off signing the $29.1 billion state budget in hopes of convincing the lawmakers to get back to work on passing a pension reform bill. The budget bill remains unsigned; however the governor has a 10-day window to act. Corbett's spokeswoman said he is reviewing the bill."