Since July 4 falls on a Saturday, the federal holiday for government employees and many businesses will be observed on Friday, June 3 this year.
It appears that Republicans and Democrats in the Pennsylvania Senate have different ideas about when their summer break should start and what their remaining tasks are.
Due to the statutory deadline for completing work on the state budget on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., both sides have prepared alternative plans to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Pennsylvania Senate Interim President Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Jefferson/Indiana/Westmoreland) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin (R-Berks/Lancaster) issued a statement after completing the state budget for 2026-27:
“We gained needed clarity this week on many of the outstanding issues that have delayed the completion of this year’s budget. We now believe we are on track to reach a full budget agreement in the days following July 4. At the conclusion of today’s session, the Senate will recess at the call of the President Pro Tempore and will reconvene when the final budget language is ready.”
All 27 Republican members of the Senate voted for the adjournment.
All 23 Democratic Senate members voted against the motion.
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) spoke out against the break.
“I strongly opposed the Senate Republicans’ decision to adjourn without a final budget agreement,” he said – wrote in a post on social media. “Pennsylvanians deserve elected leaders who will do the hard work and get the job done. Let’s buckle up and get on with it, not on pause.”
Senator Vincent Hughes (Philadelphia), Minority Appropriations Chairman, said: “We are all here in Harrisburg ready to get to work and finalize the budget. But Senate Republicans are taking the ball in their own hands and going home. The Pennsylvania House is in session until Thursday. The Governor is in Harrisburg ready to work. Senate Democrats are here ready to pass the budget.”
Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) – wrote in a post on social media that “My Democratic Caucus colleagues and I were frustrated to see the Senate majority adjourn without passing a budget. We voted NO – instead, we voted to stay in session and get the job done. When Harrisburg misses its deadline, services suffer and people get hurt.”
Democrats in the House of Representatives have already passed an appropriations bill that would fund these goals Governor Josh Shapiro requested budget of $53.3 billion in general fund spending, the state’s overnight operating account.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Joanna McClinton (Delaware/Philadelphia) said Pennsylvanians deserve better in a social media post.
“It was blocked before the work was done. June 30 came and went… and instead of passing a budget, @PASenateGOP interrupted for the holiday weekend.”
McClinton then canceled Thursday’s House voting session, noting the Senate’s absence.
The only good news – taxes will still be collected, government workers will still be paid, and programs from Medicaid to environmental permits to unemployment insurance will continue to operate.
