Feb. 04, 2026
HARRISBURG – When Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his proposal for 2026-27 state spending this week, he focused heavily on the future of energy production in Pennsylvania and ways to ensure the Commonwealth doesn’t have rolling brownouts and blackouts in the coming years.
Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) commended the governor for recognizing the critical importance of energy production to strengthen the power grid and drive down consumers’ costs on their utility bills.
“Our grid operator, PJM Interconnection, has repeatedly warned of shortages by 2030. I’m thankful Gov. Shapiro has convened meetings with PECO, Duquesne Light, First Energy and PPL to emphasize price transparency, eliminate junk fees, protect low-income residents and ban deceptive contracts by retail providers,” Mehaffie said.
On Tuesday, Shapiro shared details of his $53.26 billion proposal to a joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate. His framework serves as a starting point for Appropriations hearings and budget negotiations before the July 1 start to a new fiscal year.
“This is a foundation for talks,” Mehaffie said. “The state budget must be passed by June 30 to avoid causing harm to social services, school districts, small businesses and libraries.”
Shapiro announced a new watchdog for energy affordability and told lawmakers that “we need to have a hard conversation about the amount of profit utilities and their investors can make.”
“I hear every day from Pennsylvanians concerned about their skyrocketing costs related to utilities,” Mehaffie said. “Like the governor, I take the issue of exorbitant power bills very seriously.”
Shapiro’s speech touched on the proliferation of data centers across the globe. He said Pennsylvania has the talent and workforce for these facilities but noted the developers need to be held to strict standards.
Mehaffie agreed with that concept, saying data centers (and the jobs associated with them) belong in well-planned, sensible locations with access to power generated in a way that does not disrupt current grid operations. Shapiro and Mehaffie have pushed for developers to bring their own power generation or pay entirely for the new generation they’ll need.
“These projects need to be heavily scrutinized in a setting that allows for input from the public,” Mehaffie said.
Mehaffie, a five-term lawmaker, praised Shapiro’s call for four new classes of Pennsylvania State Police cadets (totaling 480 troopers), greater job opportunities for people with disabilities, and $50 million more in basic education funding for pre-K to 12th grade schools. He highlighted the potential 2.3% increase for Pre-K Counts.
Mehaffie expressed frustration about a proposal to take existing programs from Pennsylvania’s general fund (fairs, the state veterinary lab, and the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission) and pay for them going forward using the Race Horse Development Fund. The programs have not tapped the Race Horse Development Fund for several years.
The Race Horse Development Fund’s revenue comes from a tax on slot machines. It supports enhanced purses and awards for the state’s thoroughbred and standardbred breeding programs.
“The Race Horse Development Fund supports operations within the 106th District as owners, trainers, grooms, track employees and support personnel ready thoroughbreds for racing at Penn National Racecourse at Hollywood Casino. The scale of those operations is already shrinking for several reasons, and I will advocate for the Race Horse Development Fund to stay true to its mission and remain targeted for racing support,” Mehaffie said.
Similarly, Mehaffie said he appreciates that more and more of his colleagues have become amenable to regulating the slot-like skill games often found in social clubs and gas stations. The potential taxes and fees from the games factored into the governor’s budget plan.
“These games have proliferated in Pennsylvania in recent years because there haven’t been guardrails,” Mehaffie said. “They need to be regulated in a way that protects our established gaming industry and casinos like the one in East Hanover Township.”
Representative Thomas L. Mehaffie III
106th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717-260-6563
jfitch@pahousegop.com
RepMehaffie.com / Facebook.com/RepMehaffie