The fiscal year began July 1, but the state budget is stuck in legislative limbo.
On Wednesday, July 5, the Pennsylvania House approved a $45.5 billion state budget after Gov. Josh Shapiro promised to veto his own proposal to fund private school vouchers.
However, the presiding officer of each chamber needs to sign the legislation before it lands on Shapiro’s desk. The state Senate is technically on summer break until September 18, and GOP leadership in that chamber seems to be in no hurry to come back after Shapiro reversed his commitment to fund the vouchers. That was one of the Republican's top priorities for the annual budget.
Still, Shapiro urged legislators to come to an agreement and sign the bills in September.
“I'm focused on common sense solutions for the good people of Pennsylvania. My job is to do that important work for them to fight for them every day. That's what I'm doing. I'll leave the politics to those in the capital,” Shapiro said in a statement.
