Reaction to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address from the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday has been swift with widely expected responses from both sides of the aisle.
House Republican Appropriations Chairman Seth Grove (R-York) said the governor’s budget proposal will put Pennsylvania on the path to fiscal failure.
“Gov. Shapiro’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget proposal is unaffordable, irresponsible and misleading,” Grove said.
“This budget will bankrupt Pennsylvania’s future and lead to tax hikes within the next four years. Shapiro’s proposal includes spending more than $2.5 billion on initiatives identified in his budget as creating new or expanding current government programs. Pennsylvanians deserve a government that lives within its means by keeping spending below income like families throughout this Commonwealth do every day. I urge the governor to come to his senses and work with House Republicans on a responsible budget.”
“Today’s budget proposal is a very solid plan to deliver for every Pennsylvanian. It’s a thorough, bold plan to open the doors of opportunity in a myriad of areas,” said Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “From historic investments in basic education funding to laying out an aggressive economic development plan, this budget prepares Pennsylvania’s students and workers for a vibrant future in our commonwealth. I look forward to continuing to bring all parties to the table as we go forward through this budget process.”
“This budget prioritizes the urgent need for Pennsylvania to invest in our public schools and fix our unconstitutional education system. I applaud the Governor’s commitment to fully and adequately fund public schools and take action on the recommendations of our Basic Education Funding Commission,” said Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia). “We have the money. And it’s far past time we fix our schools and ensure that future generations never have to walk into a crumbling school or lack educational tools they need to succeed.”
“We are very pleased to see that Governor Shapiro’s budget address highlighted serious healthcare affordability and access issues facing Pennsylvania families, including medical debt, prescription drug prices, hospital closures, and the cost of health insurance,” said Antoinette Kraus, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network.
“For a small investment of $4 million, the Governor’s proposal would wipe out $400 million in medical debt for families across Pennsylvania. If combined with new protections that prevent medical debt from happening in the first place, this would be a game-changer for families struggling with medical costs.”
“Gov. Shapiro’s proposed budget is a shockingly fiscally irresponsible partisan wish list,” said Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield in a statement. “Shapiro shows no willingness to even acknowledge the structural deficit, much less address it. In fact, his proposals exacerbate the deficit, draining all state reserves and forcing tax hikes in the coming years. This budget address was a missed opportunity to separate himself from the typical tax-and-spend approach that defined the prior administration.”
“Governor Shapiro is putting politics ahead of Pennsylvanians calling for this increase,” said Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, in regards to the call to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. “Economists agree: the track record of doubling the minimum wage in other states has negative tradeoffs for those that are affected by the proposal. His call for a $15 minimum wage would put the Commonwealth’s small businesses at risk, and endanger the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians.”
“I applaud Governor Josh Shapiro for his focus on rectifying Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional system of funding public education,” said Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan. “By implementing the Governor’s plan, we have a chance to invest nearly $1.1 Billion in public education, including a nearly $900 Million investment in a new formula that addresses the inequities laid out in the historic school funding lawsuit. For years, this inequitable distribution of funding has meant that Black and Brown students and students experiencing poverty have been shortchanged and have been denied essential resources.”
“When Governor Shapiro was on the campaign trail, he promised to change how state government works for the people. I am thrilled he is keeping his word as it relates to the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and I/DA communities,” said Sherri Landis, Executive Director of The Arc of Pennsylvania. “Governor Shapiro’s investment in the I/DD system will help individuals receive the services they desperately need.”
“For decades, taxpayers footed the bill of deception – but this year they won’t,” said Planned Parenthood PA Advocates Executive Director Signe Espinoza. “A budget proposal shows us where a Governor’s values and principles are, and Governor Shapiro’s clearly lie with access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care. It is no small feat to eliminate an entrenched program, even one that is harmful, and we applaud this Governor’s commitment.”
“Today’s $7.25 per hour minimum wage in Pennsylvania is simply not enough to ensure that workers can provide for themselves and their families,” said Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director at Keystone Research Center. “Raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, as Governor Shapiro proposed once again in his budget address today would not only improve the lives of millions of workers but also lead to a stronger and more equitable economy. We applaud his continued commitment to help working families make ends meet with a minimum wage increase – a policy that would also inject more money into Pennsylvania’s local economies.”
“It’s disheartening,” said Melissa Froehlich Green, Public Communications Chair for the School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania. “None of this diminishes what the governor has already done to make sure students have access to healthy meals. But the time is now for Pennsylvania to do everything in its power to ensure no child goes hungry. As much as we’re disappointed by this plan, we remain committed to working with the administration and General Assembly to get the job done.”
“We appreciate that Governor Shapiro recognizes the need to combat election-related disinformation and make sure that all Pennsylvanians have accurate information about our election processes,” said Salewa Ogunmefun, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Voice. We look forward to working with him to secure this funding, and to enact other meaningful election reforms, including same day voter registration, and early in-person voting.”
“We’re encouraged that Gov. Shapiro recognizes the importance of workforce development and robust and diverse career pathways,” said Carrie Amann, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association, in a statement. “The Governor’s investments in Industry Partnerships provide employers with the necessary resources to identify the needs and gaps of our workforce and train workers to reach their career pathway potential. Additionally, the proposed new model of higher education presents a critical connection with Pennsylvania’s workforce development system to education.”
this story will be updated
