Apr. 10, 2018
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) recently introduced a 39-bill package to implement a change in the state budget process he has proposed to separate the omnibus general appropriations bill into individual pieces.
The bills would put each state agency or department into a separate piece of legislation. In addition, the package includes a resolution setting expenditure limitations for both the total budget and each agency.
“These bills would implement the changes I have proposed in
House Bill 2070, which would end the practice of putting almost every state agency in one bill and instead allow for a separate vote on each appropriation,” Ortitay said. “I’m hopeful we can approve these bills in order to implement better oversight of state spending. In addition, it would allow legislators to voice their opposition to certain portions of the budget without voting down the entire spending plan.”
House Resolution 820 would set the expenditure limitations. By setting the total amount of state spending for each agency, the expenditure limitations would guide the Legislature in enacting the actual appropriation for each agency. Amounts appropriated in the budget bills would not be able to exceed the levels sets in the expenditure limitation resolution. If the Legislature makes appropriations in excess of the amounts adopted in the expenditure limitation resolution, the governor would be required to veto amounts appropriated over what is provided in the expenditure limitation resolution.
The bills in the package are:
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House Bill 2172 – Judiciary
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House Bill 2173 – Criminal Justice
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House Bill 2174 – Executive Offices
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House Bill 2175 – Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
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House Bill 2176 – Lieutenant Governor
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House Bill 2177 – Civil Service
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House Bill 2178 – Legislature
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House Bill 2179 – Department of Insurance
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House Bill 2180 – Language inserted into Fiscal Code to spend funds appropriated
•
House Bill 2181 – Department of Community and Economic Development
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House Bill 2182 – Department of Agriculture
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House Bill 2183 – Auditor General
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House Bill 2184 – Treasury Department
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House Bill 2185 – Department of Labor and Industry
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House Bill 2186 – State Ethics Commission
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House Bill 2187 – Department of Aging
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House Bill 2188 – Department of Banking
• House Bill 2189 – Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
• House Bill 2190 – Attorney General
• House Bill 2191 – Thaddeus Stevens
• House Bill 2192 – Milk Marketing Board
• House Bill 2193 – PennDOT
• House Bill 2194 – Pennsylvania State Police
• House Bill 2195 – Health Care Cost Containment Council
• House Bill 2196 – Governor – Individual Appropriation Acts
• House Bill 2197 – Department of State
• House Bill 2198 – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• House Bill 2199 – Department of Revenue
• House Bill 2230 – State System of Higher Education
• House Bill 2231 – Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority
• House Bill 2232 – Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
• House Bill 2233 – Environmental Hearing Board
• House Bill 2234 – Department of Education
• House Bill 2235 – Department of Environmental Protection
• House Bill 2236 – Department of General Services
• House Bill 2237 – Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs
• House Bill 2238 – Department of Health
• House Bill 2239 – Department of Human Services
• House Bill 2240 – Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission
The bills are awaiting assignment to a House standing committee.
The 46th Legislative District includes Collier and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, Heidelberg, McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships and Burgettstown, McDonald and Midway boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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