CF Statement on “Stop-Gap” Budget

“The Commonwealth Foundation supports the idea of a stop-gap budget to ensure that state workers get paid, electricity in state building remains on, and Medicaid bills get paid.

Unfortunately, Gov. Rendell should have proposed the stop-gap measure on June 27, when it was clear no budget deal was imminent, rather than July 27, nearly a full month into the fiscal year. It is unfortunate that, yet again, Gov. Rendell has pimped state workers in his budget negotiations, and that only a federal investigation over violation of the Fair Labor Standard Act has prompted his backpedaling.

While it remains unclear if the Governor has the discretion to pay state employees, some measure of a “stop-gap budget” would alleviate the incredible strain placed on state employees.”