Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

February 6, 2025

Governor’s Budget Plan Overspends

If asked to make a list of the issues that need to be addressed in Harrisburg, what would be the first item on your list?

For some, it’s public safety and the need for strong police, fire and emergency medical services. For others, it’s education reform. If you are a hunting and fishing enthusiast, your list will probably start with policies related to those interests.

These are certainly important topics, and like many Pennsylvanians, I have a list of priorities or even a “wish list” of things I want to address. However, there is one subject that stands above all: Pennsylvania’s general fund budget. If our budget is solvent and handled responsibly, Harrisburg can better meet the needs of our residents. But if spending is mismanaged, the problems, both in the long term and short term, can be devastating.

It is with this understanding that I listened to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s third budget address.

An annual event used to begin the budget negotiation process, both the House and Senate assemble for a joint session to hear the governor’s ideas and priorities. For a few weeks afterward, Appropriations committees in both chambers will host hearings with state agencies to review their allotments.

House members and senators will then negotiate and draft budget legislation that enacts a 2025-26 spending plan.

While I agree with a portion of Gov. Shapiro’s priorities discussed in the address, unfortunately, his plan goes against a very important concept that cannot be ignored – it spends much more than we have.

Coming in at $51.47 billion, it increases spending by 7.5% over the current fiscal year. Meanwhile, the administration estimates that revenue for 2025-26 will grow by 2.8%.

To cover the difference, Gov. Shapiro’s plan is reliant on transfers from reserves from previous years and Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day fund. However, once those funds run out, which would occur in roughly two years, lawmakers would have only two choices: cut services or raise taxes.

Instead, I believe we should make more fiscally responsible decisions now and keep spending in line with our revenue.

During his budget address, Gov. Shapiro mentioned two plausible sources of revenue, which include the legalization of recreational marijuana and expanding our gaming laws to legalize and tax video skill games.

The problem is that both topics are significant law shifts that have not been brought before the House. While both topics have their share of opposition and support, I believe it dangerous to consider a budget that hinges on tax revenue for initiatives that are nowhere near being enacted into law.

In terms of public safety, I do appreciate that the governor’s proposal includes plans for four new Pennsylvania State Police cadet classes and expands financial support to local fire companies. However, his plans fail to address better funding for emergency medical services, which is a serious issue we can no longer overlook.

The previous election cycle demonstrated that we expect government to be run more efficiently and with better economic planning. Unfortunately, Gov. Shapiro’s plan concentrates almost exclusively on spending but fails to focus on savings and efficiency. 

Overall, I applaud Gov. Shapiro’s intention to address every concern, checking off as many items as possible on Pennsylvanians’ wish lists. But his plan lacks sustainability and in just a few short years, it will be nearly impossible for Harrisburg to meet the Commonwealth’s needs. 

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Community Conservation Partnerships Program Now Accepting Grant Applications - Communities across Pennsylvania can now apply for state grants to fund parks, recreation and conservation projects, as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opens its latest round of Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding. Applications are open now through April 2 at 4 p.m.
 
Eligible applicants include local governments and recreation and conservation nonprofit organizations. The grants fund projects such as park and recreation projects, conservation planning, trail planning, land and river conservation, community and streamside tree planting, and more.

More information, including an overview, eligibility criteria and link to the application can be found on the DCNR website, pa.gov/agencies/dcnr, selecting the link for “Programs and Services” and then selecting ‘Grants.”
 
Students Invited to Participate in Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign – The Department of Health is inviting Pennsylvania students in first through sixth grades to enter the 2025 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”

The annual contest helps students, Scout troops and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites and how to remove ticks that do bite.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 14, at 5 p.m. Visit health.pa.gov/ticks for more information. 



Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper