Sorry we were late to work, boss! We were sitting in our towel at the edge of the bed scrolling Instagram. 🧖📱 Oh, chill out! Don’t fire us. After all, it’s just a matter of time. 🙃
PA lawmakers have until June 30th to pass the latest state budget. Will they deliver or drag their feet? 🧐 While we wait, let’s look at what everyone’s arguing over.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on PA’s budget deadline:
- 🧮 Budget Bickering - The clock is ticking on Pennsylvania's next budget, but lawmakers aren't on the same page. House Democrats say they've already done their part by passing Gov. Josh Shapiro's $53B spending plan. Senate Republicans aren't convinced and say the proposal costs too much.
- 🎰 Game On - A lot of eyes in Harrisburg are on skill games right now. The machines could become a major budget bargaining chip after the PA Supreme Court ruled they should likely be treated more like slot machines. Proposed taxes on the industry are expected to raise $765.9M in new revenue.
- 🏫 Getting Schooled - School funding is also near the top of Pennsylvania's budget to-do list…again. Shapiro wants to send another $526M to disadvantaged school districts, following nearly $1B in additional aid approved a year ago.
- 🌿 Legalize It - The budget contains a few other big-ticket ideas. Shapiro is counting on $200M a year from legalized recreational marijuana, more than $300M in annual savings from a higher minimum wage, and $300M for public transit. Lawmakers turned down a similar transit ask last year.
- ☔ Makin’ It Rain - Another major sticking point: how to pay for proposed spending increases. Shapiro wants to withdraw about $4.7B from the state's rainy day fund to help balance the budget and support additional funding for education, human services, corrections, and the PA State Police.
🔥Bottom line: Fun fact: PA hasn’t passed a budget on time since 2021. Will they make it by the final buzzer? We’ll have to wait and see. Did you know PA college savers can now use crypto? Read all about the new rules here in this article.
Which budget item do you care about the most?
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