Shapiro's $44.4B budget pitch keeps Pa. spending relatively flat, preserves some pandemic benefits

[FakeNoose]

(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/governor-shapiro-budget-education-spending-conservative/

HARRISBURG — In his first budget proposal as Pennsylvania’s chief executive, Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling for $1 billion in new education spending, permanent state funding for public defenders, and an expansion of a shrinking rebate program for older people.

The $44.4 billion proposal — a 3.6% spending increase over the current fiscal year — is based on what the Democrat called “conservative” future revenue estimates in a Tuesday speech to the legislature. He said his plan attempts to preserve Pennsylvania’s flush coffers to avoid future tax increases or budget cuts while replacing federal monies with state dollars to fund a number of pandemic-era policies.

Flanked by the General Assembly’s first female chamber leaders — state House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) and state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) — Shapiro called his pitch a “commonsense budget” that is a “reflection of our reality.”

“And nothing gets done unless a majority in her chamber agree,” Shapiro said.

The speech kicks off four months of public hearings and private meetings between the executive and the divided legislature. Republicans control the state Senate, and Democrats have a razor-thin hold on the state House. The deadline for a spending deal is June 30.

- more at link -

Spotlight says that a lot of Shapiro's budget includes efforts that former Gov. Tom Wolf also supported, including a pledge to remain in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) which is a sticking point for many Repukes.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Agree with his priorities

but the state over decades has consistently added new fees. County road and bridge fee, and vehicle and license fees have gone up repeatedly. I read somewhere PennDOT actually is profitable. And they partner with private enterprise. PennDOT service centers are typically located in insurance agencies. I suppose it's cheaper than state-owned operations. Shapiro is no fool. He knows he must deliver change and services and toe the line on spending. No one knows what to do with school funding. Not a clue. But those taxes have gone up stiffly over the years.