Corbett+warns+lawmakers+not+to+exceed+his+budget+limit

=By Laura Olson= =//Published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette//= =//6/20/11//= = = = = =LANCASTER, Pa. -- Amid budget negotiations with state lawmakers, Gov. Tom Corbett used his appearance here Monday to reaffirm two of his positions that have been publicly questioned in recent weeks.= =He was addressing a gathering of township commissioners from across the state, but his message was aimed at legislators in Harrisburg: Abide by my spending limit of $27.3 billion, and put the brakes on plans to work a fee on gas drillers into the budget package.= ="We will get a budget done on time as long as they don't want to spend more money than I do," Mr. Corbett told them, referring to the June 30 budget deadline. "If they come in with $27.35 [billion], then we'll be there until July 1 or 2 or 3 or 4."= =Noting his residency at the governor's mansion, the Shaler resident said he "can be in Harrisburg as long as it takes to do this what I think is the right way."= =He and lawmakers appear to be close to an agreement on the proper way to move forward with an outline for state spending. Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, said they plan to send budget bills back to the state House by the end of the week.= =The House approved a $27.3 billion budget in late May, and lawmakers since have been negotiating tweaks to a handful of allocations, mostly involving education, welfare and health care.= =But leaders from both parties are pushing back against Mr. Corbett's repeated request that they wait until after next month's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission report to consider a drilling fee.= =Mr. Scarnati said such a fee likely will be offered as an amendment to the budget measures, which he said are in danger of "getting bogged down" with that debate as the deadline approaches.= =Interest in moving forward now on a fee, rather than waiting for the July 22 commission report, is coming from both Democrats and some Republicans, Mr. Scarnati said.= =The governor said adopting an impact fee before the commission completed its review would be tantamount to "coming up with a solution before you have defined what the problem is."= =Asked after his remarks whether he would veto a budget measure that includes a new fee on drillers, he replied: "I would certainly lean that way right now."= =He added that he would have to take a look at any proposal and declined to comment on the various taxes and fees that have been introduced so far.= =Mr. Corbett said his preference would be to work with the Legislature over the summer to draft bills and fully vet the related issues on local zoning ordinances and a reasonable amount for a fee.= =When a reporter noted that he repeated that "wait until fall" theme throughout his remarks, he showed some exasperation.= ="Did I send a message enough for you?" the governor asked. "I wish people would hear it."= =Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said his caucus "strongly believes" an assessment on drillers should be part of the budget, and that may be their only chance to vote on such a fee proposal.= ="We have environmental and local government impacts that are continuing without anyone having revenues to deal with them," Mr. Costa said.= = Read more: [] = = = = = =News= =home=