State Rep. Daniel McNeill, D-133rd, recently introduced a bill to suspend pay and per diems for members of the General Assembly and administration officials if a budget is not passed on a timely basis.

The state's fiscal year ended June 30 and passing the state budget is necessary to extend state spending authority into the new fiscal year starting July 1.

"Responsible negotiation and the passing of a budget is something the citizens of the Commonwealth count on us for," McNeill said.

"As legislators and members of the executive branch it is our basic fiduciary duty and a core function of state government to carry out this obligation. In order to move the budget process forward to timely completion, my bill would incentivize all involved by removing any pay or per diem after the deadline until a budget is passed."

McNeill said the pay suspension would impact senators and representatives, the governor, lieutenant governor and the governor's cabinet officers, but would not include staff.

In addition, once the budget is passed, retroactive reimbursement for pay or per diems would be prohibited.

"Games and posturing force the citizens of Pennsylvania to view us as ineffective and as not taking our responsibilities seriously," McNeill added.

"We should start the process early in the year, engage in actual negotiations and compromise to get the budget done on time."