Pa. House GOP plan to budget more money for education

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state House Republican majority is introducing a counterproposal to Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget plan that would soften some of the governor’s cuts in education while drawing money away from public welfare programs.

House Republicans were expected today to give more detail about their plan. The fiscal year ends June 30.

A House Republican spokesman says the $27.3 billion plan will be the same amount as the governor’s and won’t include any new taxes.

Legislators have roundly criticized Corbett’s proposed cuts to public schools and state-supported universities, and the House GOP says the state can save money in public welfare programs by cutting down on fraud, waste and abuse.

Democrats are criticizing the Republicans’ refusal to use a half-billion-dollar surplus to ease spending cuts.