💰 New week. New budget.
Headlines. Shapiro signs the state budget. How much does it cost to run a state legislature. Annoying campaign text messages. 12-year-old MLB All-Star correspondent.
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What we hear. “There is so much more I want to do and intend to do, like raising the minimum wage, funding mass transit and increasing access to affordable housing across Pennsylvania.” – Governor Josh Shapiro
Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.
The most significant story
1. General Assembly approves $50.8 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026-2027
“At a Sunday evening ceremony in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a $50.8 billion state budget for next fiscal year.
The spending package was approved 12 days after the deadline set in the state constitution and was tardy for the fifth consecutive year.
The governor originally proposed a $53.3 billion package, but Senate Republicans cut more than $1.1 billion from the governor’s spending proposal that would not require any payments from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Reactions to Fetterman and McCormick’s joint fundraising plan: ‘He’s going to fall over’. “Is there a sinister motive behind Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick’s move to fundraise together? Democrats say there is, and the former Republican predicts Fetterman, the state’s former lieutenant governor, will switch parties. ” | PoliticsPA
Houlahan inside. “By helping with her grandchildren and caring for her own parents, Chester County U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan brings a personal touch to her affordability legislation.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Shapiro wants a fight with Democrats — so far, without leading it. (*13*) | Axles
Fetterman and McCormick released statements following the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. “Pennsylvania lawmakers release statements following the sudden death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Saturday evening.” | WTAE
Country
2. PA spends $60 million a year to run the Legislature. Keeping track of money is complex
“Running the nation’s largest full-time professional legislature is high-priced.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly spent more than $60 million each year from 2023 to 2025 on operating expenses, including utilities, food, office rents and housing for lawmakers and staff. This money was also used to purchase highly advanced materials and computer software, office renovations and catering lunches.
However, the average taxpayer would never know these details because they are not easily accessible or kept in one place.’ | PennLive
Elsewhere
Taxpayers footed the bill as PA senator spent almost $80,000. dollars for invite-only lunches. “Coconut chicken tenders with mango-apricot sauce. Baked salmon fillets. Boneless pork chops. Assorted cheesecakes and slices of angel food cake topped with sweet berries and sour cream. These are just some of the lunch options if you’re invited to Senator Vince Hughes’ office on Capitol Hill. ” | PennLive
Investments in public education adopted by the General Assembly. “The AP House and Senate have passed legislation (HB 1505), sponsored by State Rep. Liz Hanbidge (D-Montgomery), that implements key education investments included in the 2026-2027 state budget while strengthening access to early childhood education across Pennsylvania.” | PoliticsPA
PA-08: Cognetti unveils anti-corruption agenda, targets Bresnahan. “Saying that ‘people want a functioning government,’ Democratic congressional candidate Paige Cognetti presented her anti-corruption agenda to clean up Washington during a press conference on Thursday.” | PolitykaPA
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Campaign text messages may soon become more effective—and irritating
“AI-powered platforms train bots to sound like political candidates in text messages while conducting personalized conversations with thousands of potential voters. The bots also collect data, learn what each voter wants from their representatives, and exploit that information to shape the message of the future campaign.
Some in the broader political texting industry say the ability of generative AI to answer voters’ questions and collect data on their concerns will be revolutionary for campaigns; others say that political texting is a constrained and irritating tool and that using artificial intelligence will not improve it.” | NPR
Elsewhere
The Cognetti/Bresnahan race comes amid a democratic schism in Lackawanna County. “The factional civil war among Lackawanna County Democrats that reignited last month amid a thwarted effort to oust 76 elected members of the county Democratic Committee coincides with a much larger political battle that will end in November.” | Scranton Times Tribune
Pinsley’s former campaign manager pleads guilty to false petition charges in 2024 auditor general race.. “The Democratic campaign manager for Mark Pinsley’s 2024 campaign for auditor general agreed to a plea deal last week in Chester County to plead guilty to false petition charges in that race.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
AP GOP appoints overseer to reorganize Washington Republican Committee. “The Pennsylvania Republican Party names an overseer to reorganize the Washington County GOP committee after a mass exodus of officials from the local political organization while an acting chairman led the group for nearly a year without selecting a permanent leader.” | Uniontown Herald-Standard
Small businesses plead for tax breaks and Philadelphia receives a windfall of $100 million. “Mayor Parker’s push to tax Uber and Amazon failed, but local businesses still pay more.” | Billy Penn
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Social Security faces a 2032 crisis, but two bipartisan solutions could save it | Reverend Sandy Strauss
- Rural Pennsylvanians deserve better access to Alzheimer’s care | Matt Espenshade
- Socialists are leading Democrats into the Tea Party trap | William M. Daley
- Evil cannot be regulated. This should be rejected | Cheryl Lynn Allen
- Supreme Court originalism is dead, dead, dead | Noah Feldman
1 item
5. How a Philadelphia student became an MLB All-Star correspondent
“Before every school concert Isabella Gonzalez she was worried about freezing in front of the crowd. Now he calms his nerves the same way a seasoned hitter settles into the batter’s box: by trusting his preparation.
Why it matters: A 12-year-old Philadelphia elementary school student will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with veteran sports reporters and interview some of baseball’s biggest stars during Monday’s MLB All-Star Media Day.
Big picture: Gonzalez is one of several Philadelphia-area students selected to attend All-Star Game festivities as part of a global education program run by the Players Trust, the charitable arm of the MLB players’ union. | Axios Philadelphia
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