Nov. 12, 2025
HARRISBURG – Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Upper Nazareth Township) today voted for the 2025-26 state budget and issued the following statement regarding his support for the budget agreement and its many components:
“The passage of this long-delayed state budget represents responsible governing and stewardship of people’s hard-earned tax dollars. This budget doesn’t raise taxes, nor does it use any of the state’s Rainy Day Fund while prioritizing core government functions that put Pennsylvanians first.
“It is vital that we as elected officials focus on the affordability of everything from utility costs to grocery bills and prices at the gas pump.
“As part of the budget agreement, we are repealing, through statute, Wolf Administration regulations that forced Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. This action not only restores legislative oversight, but even more important, it protects and facilitates creating family-sustaining energy jobs, avoids what would have been a 30% increase in energy bills by 2030 and revitalizes our Commonwealth’s energy industry that will help increase the supply of energy and ensure a reliable energy grid. Each of these changes will be crucial in helping to control energy costs moving forward.
“This budget also makes significant strides in our effort to decrease health care costs while helping those most in need. We’re reinforcing benefit integrity to ensure those who receive public assistance are the ones who truly need it.
“Eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in our public health care programs helps make health care more affordable for everyone.
“The budget also significantly increases funding in the fight against food insecurity because no one should go hungry. Finally, we’re returning taxpayer money directly to low- and moderate-income working families through a new tax credit program that helps workers keep more of their hard-earned money.
“The budget also continues to fund Pennsylvania school districts at record levels. This budget boosts PreK-12 education funding by $866.5 million with increases for such things as the Ready to Learn Block Grant program, basic education, special education, Pre-K Counts, transportation, school safety and school mental health services.
“These measures are incredibly beneficial for the people of the 137th Legislative District and move Pennsylvania toward a stronger, more sustainable and affordable future.”
Representative Joe Emrick
137th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives