Corbett signs state budget

Gov. Tom Corbett announced at a Capitol press conference that he signed the PA State budget and used a line-item veto to cut the legislatures own budget. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

(Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com)

UPDATE from Associated Press: Gov. Tom Corbett signed the state budget 10 days late on Thursday and used his line-item veto to strike $65 million from the General Assembly's own appropriation, urging a renewed effort to cut public-sector pensions for newly hired teachers and state workers.

Corbett, a Republican, said he wanted to avoid any more school districts raising property taxes to cover their pension obligations.

He cut $7.2 million in spending designated by the Legislature, noting that the proposal sent to him last week increased the General Assembly's own $320 million budget by 2 percent and included $5 million for parking.

"They filled the budget with discretionary spending and then refused to deal with the biggest fiscal challenge facing Pennsylvania," Corbett said in a Capitol news conference.

He said lawmakers left Harrisburg "with unfinished business. They need to come back and enact pension reform."

Earlier:

Gov. Tom Corbett will hold a press conference at 10:30 this morning, where he is expected to announce his decision over whether to sign the proposed $29.1 billion budget, or send it back to the Legislature with a veto message demanding more work.

PennLive reporters Eric Veronikis and Christina Kauffman, along with photographer Mark Pynes, will be reporting live from the event via Twitter. You can follow along to their reports, however, by checking out the widget below.