Nov. 12, 2025
HARRISBURG – Rep. Joe D’Orsie (R-Manchester) today issued the following statement after casting his “no” vote on the overall Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Appropriations budget bill.
“Although this year's budget package includes some key wins for Pennsylvanians, like the bona fide withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), substantive permitting reform and an increase in economically disadvantaged schools (EDS) scholarship monies, in the end I could not support a budget that spends nearly $6 billion more than projected revenues. All things considered, and despite my opposition to major pieces of this package, I am pleased that the General Assembly finally delivered a budget, albeit several months late.
“Math was really the deciding factor as I compared this budget's pros and cons. The $50.1 billion spend number tracks at $5.7 billion over projected revenues, setting the stage for probable future tax hikes and continuing a very dangerous precedent of spending beyond the Commonwealth's means.
“Arguably the most positive aspect of the budget is the Commonwealth’s exit from RGGI. This job- and opportunity-killing pact, that then-Gov. Tom Wolf illegally entered the Commonwealth into years ago, has been the bane of Pennsylvania’s most vital industry: energy. Withdrawal from RGGI will likely spell significant growth in our energy sector, a much-needed change of pace for a state with such rich stores of natural gas and coal.
“On the flip side, the budget drastically cut cyber charter public school funding, which will translate to thousands of K-12 students losing education programs, teachers, support staff or even their school. In tandem with cutting cyber charter funding, the budget increases the brick-and-mortar public education by $1 billion and follows the same trajectory we've seen in recent years: massive amounts of largely unrestrained cash flowing into school districts, with little return on investment in terms of improved student success. One positive note, however, is the adoption and implementation of the 'Science of Reading' curriculum. This evidence-backed method for literacy is something I've advocated for since taking office, and I feel this is a great step to improve reading proficiency in our state.
“The budget also failed to tackle Medicaid reform in any consequential way but did include important first steps to clamp down on benefit fraud and misuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“A handful of other interesting tidbits from the budget package include two line-items nestled in the governor’s ‘Executive Offices’ section. One would increase his already expensive ‘digital experience’ team by 40%, or north of $3.3 million. The other increases spending for his Office of the General Counsel, a team that shielded a former top aide of the governor from sexual assault charges last year.”
The budget package includes a series of five bills. The General Appropriations bill sets the spending for the fiscal year, while additional, supplemental bills define how spending is to occur. Those supplemental bills include the Education Code, Human Services Code, state-related university funding and the Fiscal Code. Because the Fiscal Code included language that withdraws Pennsylvania from RGGI and crucial permitting reform, and the Human Services Code inches the Commonwealth closer to limiting SNAP fraud and abuse, D’Orsie voted “yes” on those two pieces of the budget package.
Representative Joe D’Orsie
47th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
mefox@pahousegop.com
RepJoeD.com