HARRISBURG — State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, of Cranberry Township is crying foul after votes on a state budget deal allegedly were cast for a couple legislators who were not at the Capitol.

Late Tuesday afternoon members of the House of Representatives voted 100 to 99 to replace what had been a stopgap budget recommended by the Appropriations Committee with a framework budget, roughly the $30.8 billion budget proposed by the Senate during the weekend.

However, votes in favor of the budget apparently were cast for Washington County Democrat Rep. Pete Daley and Philadelphia County Democrat Rep. Leslie Acosta even though both were away from Harrisburg. In the House, representatives must be on the floor to cast votes.

Metcalfe sent a letter to the Republican caucus in the House to raise the issue and to see if the vote could be negated. He said, if those votes were not counted, the motion would have failed.

Metcalfe said Wednesday he spoke with the Speaker of the House Mike Turzai and the House parliamentarian, and said they were not able to tell him if a vote could be eliminated.

However, Metcalfe did say House Majority Leader Dave Reed could bring the subject up on the floor and say that all subsequent votes related to the initial vote are tainted.

Although a new plan would make Tuesday’s vote a “moot point,” Metcalfe said it still is important to raise questions about it, saying the rule against proxy voting should be enforced.

“This is a reflection on the integrity of the institution,” Metcalfe said.

Metcalfe said he believes the House ethics committee should look into the situation.