HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Disagreements over expanding casino-style gambling in Pennsylvania remain at the forefront of negotiations over how to patch up state government’s yawning deficit.
Republican House Speaker Mike Turzai (TUR-zye) of Allegheny County said Friday that there are no agreements in private negotiations between leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Turzai says the primary issue for negotiators is expanding gambling and the extent of it.
Turzai says a tax increase isn’t necessary to balance a $32 billion spending plan. Senate leaders say $2.2 billion is necessary to resolve a two-year projected deficit, but Turzai contends the figure isn’t quite that high.
Besides gambling, Wolf proposed a $1 billion tax package,Senate Republicans want to borrow money and House Republicans want to raise cash by issuing more licenses to sell wine or liquor.
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