Why Is The Budget Deal Breaking Down? Philly, That’s Why.

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Good morning, Philadelphia. Here’s what you need to know today.

Why is the state budget deal foundering? Because Pennsylvania legislators don’t want to cut Philly a break.

Harrisburg, it seems, is happy to give us extra taxes, but not extra tax relief, according to TribLive’s Brad Bumsted. Here’s how it works: The budget framework would raise Philly’s sales tax rate to 9.25 percent, one of the highest rates in the nation. That money is supposed to claw back property tax rates — but lawmakers are balking at a provision that would give Philly an extra share of property tax reduction. (Or so we’re told: No one’s publicly provided the precise numbers for the distribution of property tax rebates.)

Republicans, says a party spokesman, “certainly couldn’t agree to a formula to distribute the (rebate) dollars that would take care of Philly and leave the rest of the state behind.” A House Dem shoots back that GOPers “failed to deliver on what they pledged in the framework agreement, so they want to create their own false reality in which Philadelphia is somehow at fault.” Today is the 147th day without a state budget. (TribLive)

The Porngate scandal could prove a boon to legislators charged in Kathleen Kane’s abandoned sting.

“Porngate” is something of a misnomer — yes, lots of porn was exchanged by state officials involved in the scandal, but some of the emails were simply racist. The Daily News’ Wendy Ruderman says today that State Reps. Louise Bishop and Vanessa Lowery Brown plan to use that in their defense against corruption charges from the sting case that Attorney General Kathleen Kane dropped and Philadelphia D.A. Seth Williams later revived. Bishop’s attorney, Charles Peruto Jr., wants to make the racist emails admissible in court: “Everything is going to be exposed,” he tells the paper. “I believe there is going to come a day when Seth Williams wishes that he had left this alone. He is going to be very sorry that he stuck his nose in this.” (Daily News)

Pennsylvania high schoolers can breathe a sigh of relief: The Pa. House wants to delay the Keystone Exams graduation requirement for two years.

Passage of the Keystone Exams — which tests students on algebra, literature, and biology — was supposed to be a graduation requirement starting in the 2016-17 school year. The problem? Passage rates have been low statewide. So now officials are seeking alternatives to the Keystone Exams: The Pa. House voted Monday to delay implementation at least to 2019 while the contemplate a different route. The Pennsylvania Senate, which has already approved a similar bill, must approve this one before it goes to Gov. Tom Wolf for signing. (AP)

The S.S. United States has cheated death — again!

“For now, at least, the next port of call for the S.S. United States — the fastest oceanliner ever built — will not be the scrapyard, thanks to an outpouring of donations from ship lovers around the world,” the New York Times reports: In all, $600,000 in contributions came to keep the rusty ship — the one docked across from Ikea in South Philly — alive for preservation. The money should cover the cost of caring for the ship into next year, officials said. (New York Times)

A Philly-born man who was the first quadriplegic priest ordained by the Catholic Church has been endorsed for sainthood.

The U.S. Conference of Bishops has endorsed the candidacy of the Rev. William Atkinson, who was injured in a 1965 tobogganing accident, Catholic News Service reports. He was ordained in 1974, and taught for nearly 30 years at Msgr. Bonner High School before his death in 2006. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput presented Atkinon’s case, saying his cause “would be a source of encouragement for people with this kind of disability (and) reminds us of the great generosity of his family and his religious community — as they were all called to holiness” in their care for him. Augustinian priests must now gather documentation to support Atkinson’s next step on the road to canonization. (Catholic News Service | Delco Daily TImes)

Other headlines today:

Mayor-elect Kenney pushes plan to create 25 community schools

Teen Accidentally Runs Full Philadelphia Marathon

Comcast Can Interrupt Your Web Browsing With Warnings About Potentially Illegal File Sharing

John Jay College rescinds Bill Cosby’s honorary degree