Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, November 3, 2025

Pennsylvania

State Budget Talks Resume After Months of Stalemate  

Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and legislative leaders met in person for the first time since June last week amid a four-month impasse that has delayed billions in funding for schools and services. While details remain scarce, the inclusion of minority leaders suggests any deal will require bipartisan support, with education funding and energy policy among key sticking points. Spotlight PA has more.

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Supreme Court Retention Race Draws Record Spending

Three Democratic justices on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court face a retention vote which has attracted more than $15 million in advertising and national attention, with Democrats outspending Republicans 4-1. The outcome could potentially leave the court deadlocked if vacancies persist through 2027.

Bucks School Board Races Shift Focus Away from Culture Wars  

After years of heated debates and high spending, this year’s suburban Philadelphia school board contests center on local issues like taxes and kindergarten, with far less outside money and partisan rhetoric, though some districts still see lingering disputes over policies on transgender athletes and parental rights. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Commonwealth Court Weighs Challenge to Medicaid Abortion Coverage Ban  

The Commonwealth Court will hear arguments on whether Pennsylvania’s limits on Medicaid-funded abortions violate the state constitution and Equal Rights Amendment, a case that could reshape reproductive rights protections statewide. WESA has more.

PA Joins in Push for Data Centers to Provide Power  

Gov. Shapiro and governors of three other states that receive service from PJM are backing a proposal to fast-track data center projects that commit to generating electricity equal to their consumption, aiming to strengthen grid reliability and control costs while raising questions about fuel sources and permitting processes. Inside Climate News has more.

Report Finds Persistent Barriers to Health Care for Pennsylvanians with Disabilities

A new study shows people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face systemic obstacles including inaccessible facilities, limited provider training, and low Medicaid reimbursement rates. Advocates call for reforms in education, communication, and funding to improve equity and health outcomes. WESA has more.

Fentanyl Seizures in PA Expected to Hit Record Levels  

State officials report more than 50 million doses of fentanyl have been seized so far in 2025, surpassing last year’s total and underscoring its dominance over heroin as the most common opioid in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

IFO Releases October Monthly Revenue Update

The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the state agency responsible for providing revenue projections and impartial analysis for state legislators, has released its monthly revenue update for the month of October, showing that October General Fund collections totaled $3.46 billion, coming in 1.3% below estimate but 2.4% higher than last year. View the report here.

Philadelphia

Zero Fare Program Shows Strong Participation

Philadelphia’s free transit pilot has delivered millions of rides to low-income residents, though its lottery-based enrollment has raised concerns about prioritizing those with the greatest need, and its continuation depends on securing permanent funding. WHYY has more.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Voters to Choose New Mayor Amid Fiscal Challenges  

With incumbent Ed Gainey (D) out after losing the primary, Democrat Corey O’Connor and Republican Tony Moreno face off Tuesday, offering contrasting views on immigration and priorities like public safety and economic growth as the city confronts budget shortfalls and declining property values. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.

Federal

Government Shutdown Deepens as Courts Push for SNAP Aid  

The federal government shutdown has stretched into its sixth week with stalled negotiations and growing economic strain, prompting two judges to order the Trump administration to fund food assistance. Officials announced plans for only partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for 42 million Americans, leaving uncertainty over timing and benefit levels as the impasse threatens to break records and disrupt other safety-net programs. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Shapiro signed a disaster declaration and released $5 million in state funds to food banks after November SNAP benefits were suspended.

President Trump Approves Nuclear Submarine Deal with South Korea  

President Donald Trump (R) announced plans to share nuclear propulsion technology with Seoul for building a nuclear-powered submarine at Hanwha Philly Shipyard, a move aimed at strengthening U.S.-South Korea security ties amid regional tensions with China and North Korea. Politico has more.

Lawmakers Push to Revive Cancelled Farm-to-Food Bank Program  

A bipartisan proposal would restore funding for Pennsylvania farmers to supply fresh food to food banks after a U.S. Department of Agriculture program was cut, aiming to include the measure in the next Farm Bill to address hunger and support local agriculture. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

Dems Shift Focus to Economy in 2025 Campaigns  

Democratic candidates across the nation are emphasizing cost-cutting and public safety over democracy messaging, aiming to appeal to voters more concerned about economic issues than President Trump’s rhetoric, marking a pivot from 2024’s approach and testing whether linking opponents to Trump on pocketbook concerns resonates more effectively. Axios has more.

Cozen Corner

Beltway Briefing: Virginia’s Election & the Road to 2026

All eyes are on Virginia. As the election nears, our political insiders unpack the campaigns, candidates, and key issues driving the race—and what these contests could reveal about the nation’s political trajectory heading into 2026. Listen to the latest episode featuring Public Strategies’ Howard Schweitzer, Julia Hammond, and Heidi Hertz, along with Jerry Kilgore, former Virginia Attorney General and co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s state attorneys general practice here.

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