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<p>Even before the first question was asked, five state lawmakers attending a legislative breakfast in Wilkes-Barre were pretty confident they knew one topic sure to come up: The overdue state budget.</p><p>&#8220;Everything&#8217;s on the table,&#8221; state Sen. Lisa Baker, R.-Lehman Township, said of the second annual event arranged by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce Thursday morning. The intent was to give attendees a chance to pose questions and voice concerns to legislators.</p><p>The event was designed in a &#8220;four corners&#8221; format, with the attendees splitting into four sections and the legislators moving from one to the other. Along with Baker, those lawmakers included Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca and Sen. John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke.</p><p>Despite being on opposite sides of the Senate aisle, Yudichak and Baker both said the two parties are closer in the budget dispute than it may seem. &#8220;We agree on about two-thirds of the line items,&#8221; Baker said, evoking a positive nod from Yudichak.</p><p>&#8220;There is a path out of this, but we have to rein in powerful forces,&#8221; Yudichak said of an impasse that started when freshman Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, vetoed the entire Republican-proposed budget June 30, the official deadline for passing a budget.</p><p><strong>Mandates</strong></p><p>Yudichak said the root of the problem remains that many Republicans feel they have a &#8220;powerful mandate&#8221; from the public, but that Wolf likewise feels his convincing victory in last year&#8217;s election is also a mandate.</p><p>&#8220;We have to set aside this idea of mandates,&#8221; Yudichak said. Then he hit on a recurring criticism from Democrats: That the state needs to raise more money to fix a structural deficit estimated at about $1.5 billion. &#8220;We need recurring new revenue,&#8221; Yudichak said.</p><p>Pashinski echoed that comment, noting the latest proposal by some legislators, to increase the types of gambling that are legal in Pennsylvania, may be worth considering, but shows the limits of the discussion.</p><p>&#8220;The Republicans backed themselves into a corner when they promised no tax increase,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Both sides have to realize there is a time for reaching middle ground.&#8221;</p><p>Kaufer noted he is one of only a handful of legislators not accepting their pay during the impasse. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t taken a paycheck since July 30,&#8221; he said. The other four said they have been taking their pay.</p><p>&#8220;We do the work, the General Assembly casts its votes, the governor makes his actions consistent with what he wants to do, so the function of the office continues,&#8221; Carroll said.</p><p>Pashinski said there&#8217;s no point to refusing pay because it is being deferred, not rejected. &#8220;We all get it sooner or later, whether we take it now or not.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Regional gains</strong></p><p>Yudichak said it is unfortunate the budget impasse &#8220;uses all the oxygen&#8221; in public discussion because &#8220;there are a lot of good things happening in this area. We eliminated the inheritance tax for family businesses and farms. Wilkes University and King&#8217;s College have both expanded here in downtown Wilkes-Barre.&#8221;</p><p>Yudichak also cited the decision by DBi Services Inc. to move its headquarters into downtown Hazleton.</p><p>And Baker pointed with some pride to her success in getting a bill through the Senate that would let people with disabilities establish &#8220;ABLE accounts.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It is a akin to a college savings account. It&#8217;s tax deferred so you can save money for a loved one on a disability.&#8221; The money could go toward purchase of, say, a &#8220;wheelchair or van, whatever they need, and it wouldn&#8217;t impact their benefits.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Carroll1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Carroll </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Carroll1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Carroll </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Jerry-Mullery.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mullery </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Jerry-Mullery.jpg</photo1><caption1>Mullery </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Kaufer.-Aaron.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kaufer </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Kaufer.-Aaron.jpg</photo2><caption2>Kaufer </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Pashinski1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pashinski </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Pashinski1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Pashinski </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Baker_Lisa_Senator_mug_toned.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Baker </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Baker_Lisa_Senator_mug_toned.jpg</photo4><caption4>Baker </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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NEPA state lawmakers talk budget, share breakfast with Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber