Latest News from State Capitol and 55th District

August 14, 2025

House Misses Opportunity to Pass Budget, Fund Public Transportation

It is important that I provide a budget update to highlight recent events in Harrisburg regarding the passage of a budget plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year. You likely know that Pennsylvania is required by law to pass a general fund budget by June 30 and we have missed that deadline.

Gov. Josh Shapiro began the process by proposing to spend more than $51.6 billion in the current fiscal year. That’s $3.5 billion to $4 billion more than we take in. The new spending would likely empty our reserve and emergency funds in a few short years. This is simply unsustainable.

In July, House Democrats passed a budget that came in at $50.6 billion, just $1 billion less than Gov. Shapiro’s plan. I opposed that bill because as much as I want a budget to be passed, the budget must be responsible. It can’t spend more than we have.

When the General Assembly and the administration are at an impasse, questions begin to arise about whether Harrisburg can continue to appropriate funds and provide the many services Pennsylvanians need.

As the budget impasse has lingered throughout the summer, public transit authorities expressed financial hardships and called on Harrisburg to increase funding.

A responsible solution to end the impasse was proposed and passed in the Senate, contained in Senate Bill 160. This was a general appropriations bill that keeps funding levels for this year at $47.6 million. This is consistent with our expected revenue projections.

On a recent Sunday, I was called into Harrisburg to consider House Bill 1788 to allocate nearly $300 million in additional funding to public transit authorities, giving transit authorities more than 10% of any given year’s sales tax revenue. It also established a one-time $325 million bond program for roads and bridges and dedicated funds specifically to rural roads but only $150 million in 2025, which reduces to $125 million in 2026.

I opposed this bill as it makes only one-time investments to roads and bridges while the additional public transit spending is permanent. More concerning, it would be incredibly irresponsible to pass such a large, annual expenditure without having any idea what our 2025-26 budget will be.

Two partisan votes were then taken last week in which House committees shot down the Senate’s legislation to resolve the ongoing budget impasse and provide the stability to transit systems need in a more responsible manner. “Yes” votes by these committees would have advanced the bills to full consideration by the entire House.

Senate Bill 160 would have made certain that necessary services remain operational, including public safety, schools, and programs for seniors and those with special needs. Unfortunately, majority House Democrats serving in the Appropriations Committee voted against the bill. 

Minutes prior, a bill to address public transportation’s important needs, by making equal investments to transit agencies and roads and bridges for the next two years, also failed. 

House Bill 257 addressed public transportation’s important needs by making equal investments from the Public Transportation Trust Fund to transit agencies and for roads and bridges for the next two years. These are dollars that are already available and therefore would not create future budget shortfalls. The bill also included a variety of performance measures to better track how statewide funds are being used. The House Rules Committee rejected this bill by a party line vote.

At any level of government, a budget is a fiscal plan that begins by determining how much money you will be receiving and how much you are planning to spend. Without planning appropriately, it would be entirely too easy to overspend. This can lead to canceled services, tax increases and debt owed by future generations.

This is just like your own household. Knowing your annual income, you plan appropriately to create a lifestyle you can afford and make certain to not be over your head in debt.

My approach on fiscal matters is simple. This is your money. You send it to Harrisburg with every paycheck and every purchase. In return, you expect maintained roads, functioning schools, safe communities, and should you ever need a hand up – you expect services to be there for you.

But you should not be disrespected nor taken advantage of by wasteful spending and poor financial planning. 

It’s with this approach that I have considered, and will continue to consider, budget proposals.

Here are some additional news topics and reminders I would like to share.

Town Halls Happening in Next Two Weeks - Want to hear more about all that is happening in Harrisburg and in the 55th district? Please join me at one of my upcoming town halls. The first is Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Aluminum City Terrace Activity Center on Aluminum City Terrace in New Kensington. A week later, you can join me on Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at Lazarus' Tomb Coffee House, 1821 5th Ave. in Arnold. 

Headed to the Little League World Series? Check Out 511PA! - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is encouraging motorists traveling to the Little League World Series in Williamsport to plan their trip using the enhanced real-time travel and alternate-route information available on a specialized web page at 511PA.com. 

The website is dedicated to monitoring traffic conditions on the primary travel routes to the event, providing average travel times for those routes, as well as one or two alternates. Users will also see incidents, construction, traffic cameras and traffic speeds on the map.


Representative Jill Cooper
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jordan Frei
724.875.8450
jfrei@pahousegop.com
RepJillCooper.com / Facebook.com/RepJillCooper