The failure of leadership from the House Democrats has resulted in a budget impasse. House Republicans have repeatedly offered budget amendments and asked to be included in budget negotiations but have been rebuffed at every turn. Had House Democrats simply lived up to their promises of bipartisanship and compromise, we would have a state budget by now. 

PA House GOP leaders hold a press conference after
House Democrats' inaction leads to budget impasse



Working to Stop Out-of-Control Spending

From day one of the budget process, Republicans have been concerned about spending more than our means on this budget.

Pennsylvania House Republicans are ready, willing, and able to have a discussion with anyone who wants to pass a responsible spending plan. We are one reasonable Democrat away from concluding this budget process.

The House Democratic majority is the single point of failure in this budget process.The budget passed by the House Democrats in early June was an over-bloated and unreasonable spending plan that would have bankrupted Pennsylvania. House Republicans have been open and available to discuss ways to conclude this budget cycle.

Senate Republicans and Gov. Shapiro (a Democrat) have reached agreement on budget related issues. The Senate and Gov. Shapiro put the budget on a better path forward, including an ambitious plan to create a child-first, family-focused educational program.

House Republicans stand ready to support fiscal responsibility, students and families, and a budget plan that put Pennsylvania first.



Seizing Opportunities for Improvements


House Democrats have created a budget impasse due to their fervent opposition to providing help to students in low-performing school districts.

Gov. Shapiro just last week reiterated his support for Lifeline Scholarships, now called the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program, a promise that goes back to his campaign in 2022.

Lifeline Scholarships allow students in low-performing school districts to offset costs associated with attending an alternative academic setting. The legislation only covers costs such as tuition, textbooks, curriculum, or services for students with special needs.

In the budget bill passed by the state Senate and sent to the House, no money at all is diverted from public education funding to support Lifeline scholarships.


State Sen. Anthony Williams shares here about the dire need for help that Lifeline Scholarships could bring to his district in Philadelphia and districts all over Pennsylvania.

Yet, Williams is the ONLY Democrat in the Senate that voted for the help that this targeted type of assistance can bring. And House Democrats have created a state budget impasse over their staunch unwillingness to support this measure. Even though Gov. Shapiro - a Democrat - backs it wholeheartedly.

The Lifeline scholarships are meant to help kids in underperforming schools.  Families with children in low-performing districts would be provided restricted accounts by the state.  The family would be able to use that money to pay for tuition to private or religious schools.