Urging the Pennsylvania State Senate, now scheduled to reconvene on June 1, Governor Josh Shapiro he stated that the chamber should “get back to work” and “get the budget to my desk as soon as possible.”
Speaking in Lancaster County on Friday, the governor was asked by PoliticsPA to respond to the Democratic Party’s statement Sense. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) i Vincent Hughes (Philadelphia) that Senate Republicans were “wasting their time.”
“I introduced the budget in February and the House passed it about a month ago,” Shapiro said. “The matter is being considered in the Senate. The Senate should return to work and consider the budget. We will make compromises, which will undoubtedly be necessary. I realize that the proposal I presented will have to be improved in order to pass this process.
“But they should get back to work. They should do their job. They should get a budget on my desk as soon as possible.”
Country Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), minority chairman of the State Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs, agreed with the governor.
“As the governor said, what he proposed is not necessarily what we’re going to pass. I know what the House did, but it’s going to be different in the Senate, but at least we should be talking about it now. I think it would instill some confidence in the public that we can actually do it, and if we don’t meet, and I think we should make it clear that we’re not meeting, that should happen.”
Speaking on behalf of the Democratic caucus, Costa, the minority leader, and Hughes, the minority appropriations chairman, were critical of Republican leadership in the Senate.
“Senate Republicans’ willingness to waste valuable time in this chamber is downright disgraceful. Senate Republicans wasted a week in Harrisburg on absurd culture war bills that will do nothing to lower costs for families.”
“We have proposed popular, bipartisan legislation that will put money directly into the pockets of hard-working families. The House sent us a budget vehicle a few weeks ago, and we remain committed to working with all parties on budget negotiations.”
“But what have Republican senators done with these bills? Absolutely nothing, as they often do.
“Senate Democrats strongly urge our Republican colleagues to get serious about introducing legislation and a budget product that will keep Pennsylvania families affordable. We are disappointed that Republican leadership failed to do so this week and sincerely hope they come to their senses by June 1.”
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Indiana/Jefferson/Westmoreland) recently spoke about the rift with Senate Democrats on one issue in particular – the state minimum wage – on Capitol Preview PCN edition.
“If they want to have a reasonable conversation about sustainability that targets nonprofits and small businesses, we are ready to have that conversation,” he said. “But my feeling is that supporters, especially many in the House, just want to use this issue as a political talking point rather than do something about it.”
