US EditionPennsylvania Lawmakers Look to End Budget Stalemate, Sealed with Concession by Democrats on Climate
The budget ends a 134-day stalemate delaying funds to schools and counties, with the deal likely reducing Pennsylvania's role in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, lawmakers said.
- On Tuesday night, leaders of the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate sent a $50.1 billion budget deal for the 2025-26 fiscal year, ending a nearly four and a half month impasse past the June 30 deadline.
- Deep, partisan disagreements over spending and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative prompted the impasse, with Republican lawmakers pushing to end RGGI and Democratic leadership briefly using it as a bargaining chip.
- Schools and social-service providers have gone without state aid since July 1, forcing school districts, rape crisis agencies, and county-run social services to cut programs, spend reserves, or take loans.
- Leaders called members into Harrisburg on one day's notice and scheduled a non-voting session Tuesday followed by a voting session Wednesday, with billions for public schools and social services expected to start flowing after Gov. Josh Shapiro signs key budget bills.
- Under the deal, new authorized spending rises by about $2.5 billion, or 5%, mostly for Medicaid and public schools; it cuts cyber charter schools funding and creates the state's first refundable earned income tax credit.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Harrisburg finally passes a state budget, but it comes at a steep cost for Pa.’s antipollution efforts
After four months of haggling, the General Assembly passed a $50.1 billion budget. Ultimately, the logjam was broken by a pledge to end the state's participation in an effort to stem greenhouse gases.
CLINE: Will NH Be the Second State To Leave RGGI?
Pennsylvania shocked Northeast energy policy nerds this week by withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). To get a state budget passed, Gov. Josh Shapiro agreed to remove Pennsylvania from the 11-state carbon cap-and-trade program, making it the first state to exit since RGGI was created in 2005. RGGI is supposed to reduce regional ... Read more The post CLINE: Will NH Be the Second State To Leave RGGI? appeared first on G…
135 days late, $50.1 billion Pennsylvania budget earns bipartisan support
Gov. Josh Shapiro displays the signed state budget on Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian Karbal/The Pennsylvania Capital-Star)The last state in the nation without some form of a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year finally has a spending plan in place. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50.1 billion state budget Wednesday after intensive meetings between Republican and Democratic lawmakers in recent weeks. They had been deadlocked for nearly five months since …
Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Signs $50.1 Billion Budget After 134-Day Stalemate
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50.1 billion budget into law on Nov. 12, after a months-long stalemate between state legislators. “This is a balanced budget that cuts taxes, that makes critical investments, [and] that protects 100 percent of Pennsylvania’s rainy day fund,” Shapiro announced before signing the legislation in Harrisburg. After 134 days of debate between Republicans and Democrats, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act zoo…
AFP-PA Praises Energy Reforms in State Budget, Calls for Future Spending Cuts
HARRISBURG, PA – Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania (AFP-PA) celebrated the addition of key energy production and infrastructure permitting reforms in the state budget that passed on Wednesday, despite it coming four months late and billions of dollars over budget. AFP-PA urged lawmakers to include in the budget a repeal of Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a tax imposed on Pennsylvanians by former…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
