Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, June 5, 2025

Pennsylvania

GOP Lawmakers, Urging Fiscal Restraint, Push for $47.9B Budget

At a conference hosted by Pennsylvanian Republican legislators and Americans for Prosperity Pennsylvania, the GOP hardliners accused Governor Josh Shapiro (D) of being reckless and wasteful in his $51.5 billion budget proposal, taking particular issue with the governor’s requested legalization of recreational marijuana and tax on gaming, which accompanies the 7.5% increase in state spending. DV Journal has more.

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PA Democratic Leadership Committed to Prioritizing SEPTA

While Gov. Shapiro and House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) say they will prioritize SEPTA funding in budget negotiations with Senate Republicans, it remains unclear whether they will delay final budget approval to see SEPTA funding in the final bill. Meanwhile, Allegheny County Democratic Representatives Aerion Abney and Jessica Benham have proposed taxing rideshare and rental car users to fill the state’s transit funding gaps.

PA to Invest Nearly $8M to Expand Teacher Apprenticeships

On Monday, Gov. Shapiro announced $7.76 million in grants to expand teacher apprenticeship programs, aiming to address a critical educator shortage by supporting certification pathways for aspiring teachers, particularly in high-need areas like special education. WHYY has more.

State House Passes Cyber Charter Reform Bill

The state House passed a bill to cap cyber charter school tuition at $8,000 per student—potentially saving school districts millions—though the measure faces uncertainty in the Republican-led Senate amid concerns over its impact on school operations and student access. PennLive has more.

State Senate Advances Election Bills

The Senate State Government Committee passed a bill that would allow public observation of voting machine evaluation and require official report generation when machine malfunctions occur. This comes as election reform passed by the state House remains stalled and unconsidered by the Republican-led PA Senate. WITF has more.

Lawrence Confirmed as Commonwealth’s Consumer Advocate

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Darryl Lawrence as the state’s consumer advocate. After having served in an interim capacity for nearly four months, Lawrence will possess full authority to independently intermediate litigation concerning the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) in federal and state courts. PoliticsPA has more.

State Aging Department Drops Tiered Oversight

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging forwent its previous practice of assessing county performance on a tiered schematic, switching to a uniform system. Critics are sounding alarms that the move could cloak serious ongoing deficits, as minor deficiencies will be evaluated on the same basis as more serious violations. Spotlight PA has more.

PA Grappling With Anticipated Energy Costs of Emerging Data Centers

State utility managers worry that new data centers opening across the Commonwealth could shake up the Pennsylvania energy sector over the next ten years as artificial intelligence systems contribute to increasing energy demand. Regulators are evaluating proposals aimed at preventing strains on energy resources and higher customer costs. WITF has more.

Philadelphia

FY26 Budget Negotiations Entering HOME Stretch

The Philadelphia City Council is facing a June 12 deadline to pass Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $6.7 billion budget and Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative bills before summer recess. While key housing measures advanced during today’s meeting, Council recessed Thursday’s meeting to allow more time for committees to act, with a reconvening expected at 6 p.m. tonight. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

SEPTA’s Interim GM Appointed to Position Permanently

SEPTA has officially named Scott Sauer as its general manager, selecting the longtime transit leader to bring stability and direction to the agency as it prepares for key budget decisions and service planning. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Pittsburgh

Mayor Gainey’s Final Push Could be a Busy One

With housing development at the top of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s (D) priorities, he has seven months to serve on six other development objectives, inclusionary zoning being one of them. Despite the narrow window, transit, accessory dwelling units, minimum lot-size adjustments, utilizing affordable housing bonds, supporting a disparity study, and designing a comprehensive city plan remain high on the mayor’s to-do list as well. PublicSource has more.

Paid Sick Leave Expansion Advances in Pittsburgh City Council 

City Councilors gave a preliminary green light to a bill aimed at raising the minimum number of paid sick days for which workers in Pittsburgh are eligible. If the bill receives final approval next week, workers at large companies could reap nine paid sick days while those working at smaller companies could earn six. WESA has more.

Pittsburgh Pursues Lasting Assets for Land Bank

The Pittsburgh City Council will establish a task force dedicated to procuring durable funds for the city’s land bank. After its creation in 2014, the Pittsburgh agency plays a vital role in possessing, repurposing, and brokering abandoned properties. With the Land Bank on track to empty by 2026, federal funds are anticipated to drain out not long after. WESA has more.

Federal

President Trump’s Tax Plan Could Balloon the Deficit Further

President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” now being considered by Congress, could raise the federal deficit by $2.4 trillion over the next ten years despite slashing spending. The tax plan would also leave an estimated 10.9 million people without health insurance nationwide, as reported by the Congressional Budget Office. Pennsylvania Republicans remain divided over the bill, with U.S. Representative Dan Meuser (R-PA-09) and Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) praising the legislation and Representative Scott Perry (R-PA-10)—who initially voted for the bill—now breaking with the president. U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) spoke less favorably about the legislation but did not rule out a compromise.

PA Leaders Oppose Federal AI Regulation Ban in Budget Bill

Pennsylvania officials from both sides of the aisle are urging Congress to remove a provision in the federal budget bill that would block states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade, warning it would undermine consumer protections and state-level legislative efforts. WITF has more.

President Trump Cancels $35M for Broadband Access Expansion

Pennsylvania will lose over $35 million in Biden-era Digital Equity Act funding for public Wi-Fi and digital skills programs after the Trump administration canceled broadband equity grants, calling the underlying law unconstitutional and politically biased. The cuts could lead to significant reductions in coverage throughout the Commonwealth, especially in areas where communities already struggled to afford it. SpotlightPA has more.

Shapiro Admin Sues USDA

Gov. Shapiro filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the Trump Administration struck down the Commonwealth’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program, which allocated $13 million to 189 farms and fourteen food banks across Pennsylvania. Negotiating efforts with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins left the Shapiro administration empty handed and with no choice but to sue. PoliticsPA has more.

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