(Harrisburg) -- State House Republicans have introduced a $27.3 billion spending plan that leaders say would be balanced, despite having no new taxes. Though they're the minority party in the House, Republicans hope a proposal that boosts education funding and holds the line for state parks, hospitals and universities will win support from across the aisle. House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) says those spending levels are possible due to a more even plan of what to cut.

Obviously, there's some elements of the budget that are mandated, you know, we're required by law to fund regardless. Those items are funded. Then, we went with pretty much a 12-percent across-the-board cut." The plan would attempt to boost tax revenue by providing amnesty to scofflaws. It also calls for expanding gas drilling on state land, use of some "rainy day" money, and it would pull from an account that pays doctors' malpractice premiums. So-called "walking around money" would be zeroed out. The proposal was put forth the day after House Democrats announced they would bring the Senate Republicans' budget plan up for a vote in the near future.

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