With only one week left until the budget deadline at the end of the fiscal year, many lawmakers are laying out their view of what needs to happen to put a new state spending plan in place. Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) said he feels Pennsylvania taxpayers cannot bear the higher spending and additional taxes called for by Governor Rendell this year. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.

After strong pressure from House Republicans, the Pennsylvania House this week finally approved funding for state related schools like Penn State, Pitt, Lincoln and Temple Universities. Rep. Mike Fleck (Huntingdon, Blair & Mifflin) said he was glad House Republican fought to move forward with a vote to provide the desperately needed university funding, while Democrat leaders insisted on linking the vote to the completion of a debate on expanded gambling. Mike Davies Reports – Story and Bite available.

A controversial budget proposal which would cut all funding for higher education has been approved by the House Appropriations committee, but House Republicans claim that the plan would unfairly place the state’s college students in the line of fire. Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) said that House Democrats are using the Commonwealth’s college students as leverage for a tax increase. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.

As Pennsylvania begins another fiscal year without a spending plan, Governor Rendell and Republican lawmakers remain at odds over the Governor’s insistence on higher spending and increased taxation despite the current economic situation. Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) said that the Governor should stop threatening state workers’ paychecks in order to put pressure on lawmakers to cave to his demands. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

House Lawmakers are raising concern over the Rendell administration’s plan to impose a new series of graduation exams for Pennsylvania high school students without legislative approval. Republican members of the Education and Policy Committees held a hearing on the Keystone Exams proposal and questioned administration officials about the necessity of implementing additional exams and how much this new testing mandate would cost taxpayers. Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) said the Rendell administration does not appear to care if school districts want or can afford the new tests. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.