New Round Of Votes On PA’s Overdue Budget Yields Little As Gridlock Continues

After another round of votes on Tuesday, lawmakers are no closer to breaking the six-week gridlock on Pennsylvania’s overdue budget.

This time, the Senate returned after a six-week reprieve to advance a $47 billion stopgap spending plan that level-funds most of state government while leaders negotiate the contested aspects: how the commonwealth will afford more money for schools and public transit without worsening a multi-billion-dollar shortfall.

“This budget is grounded in reality and the reality is that we cannot spend money that we do not have,” said Sen. Kristin Philips-Hill, R-Jacobus. “The special interests who are pushing for more funding forget who signs the back of the checks – the taxpayers of our commonwealth.”

It’s far from the $51.5 billion Gov. Josh Shapiro said he wanted to spend in February, which House Democrats later approved. Since then, the Republican-majority Senate has said the proposal is dead on arrival.

“Today the Senate passed a responsible short-term budget that immediately releases funding for schools, nursing homes and human services while also advancing a comprehensive transportation plan that supports mass transit and roads,” said President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg. “Our proposal exceeds Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan using only existing funds. Pennsylvania is at a critical crossroads financially. Senate Republicans have put forward a solution that protect taxpayers, and Gov. Shapiro and House Democrats still have not answered what taxes are they willing to raise on Pennsylvanians.”