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| The Barb Wire |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Weekly Update
Another week goes by in the House with more stalled budget talks. My colleagues and I have yet to receive a serious budget proposal that merits genuine consideration. While the House majority party continues to bring up inconsequential resolutions and controversial labor bills, they have failed to make any meaningful progress on the state budget, which is now more than 100 days overdue. Senior centers, school districts and essential county services are facing increasing uncertainty and potential disruption. This is both irresponsible and disturbingly political.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed a $47.6 billion budget that prioritizes critical investments in human services, K-12 education, county assistance programs and support for seniors. We’ve not had a chance to debate this bill or vote on it in the House, which is very frustrating. To put things in perspective, the Independent Fiscal Office projects revenues at $44.6 billion for the fiscal year. The governor’s original $51.5 billion proposal exceeds that by nearly $7 billion, an unsustainable gap that would almost certainly lead to tax increases for our constituents.
I remain committed to passing a responsible budget, one that not only drives dollars to critical services, but protects taxpayers. It’s my hope that we do this now... not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. The clock is ticking and our communities deserve better.
Elsewhere in the House, I’ve filed a discharge resolution for Senate Bill 9, which would require sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed.
Tuesday morning, the House Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee held a joint hearing with the House Education Committee to discuss House Bill 1768 (The Keystone Fresh Act), which would provide fresh, locally sourced ingredients for school meals. There are still several key details that need to be set in place to push this bill forward. In the hearing, I questioned how the department will determine grant amounts for districts based on the student enrollment.
The House voted this week on House Bill 1701, which would create a school facilities inventory within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. I attempted to amend the bill, as I feel some of the language is redundant and should have already been addressed. Here are my remarks in support of the amendment, which House Democrats defeated.
Thursday morning, I attended a House Republican Policy Committee hearing on stormwater management in York with the Department of Environmental Protection. More information will be available on this topic in the next newsletter. I also had a member of my staff attend a very important meeting at The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties to discuss harmful regulations that are currently in place.
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Budget Impasse Questions & Answers
Question 1 - What is a budget impasse?
Answer: By June 30 of each year, the Commonwealth must enact a budget that sets funding levels for the following fiscal year, which begins on July 1. If a budget has not been enacted, the Commonwealth is prohibited from making many payments. This period, known as a budget impasse, continues until a budget is enacted.
Question 2 - Will the Commonwealth continue to operate and manage functions that are critical to the general public?
Answer: The Commonwealth will continue operations for all critical functions that impact the health, safety and/or welfare of the citizens of Pennsylvania.
Question 3 - Will a budget impasse affect public access to any Commonwealth operated facilities?
Answer: No. The Commonwealth will continue operations for Commonwealth-operated facilities, such as county assistance offices, prisons, youth development facilities and PennDOT locations. Citizens will continue to have access to state parks.
Question 4 – What type of payments can be made in a budget impasse?
Answer: The Commonwealth will continue operations and processing related payments for both state and federally funded programs and benefits in all areas that affect the health, safety and protection of Pennsylvanians or as required under federal law, state court decisions or the Pennsylvania Constitution. This includes public benefit programs administered by the state, including cash assistance; support for women, infants and children (WIC); health care services paid for through Medical Assistance; hospitals, other health care providers and nursing homes; unemployment compensation; child care subsidy payments; home and community-based services, including attendant care; seniors and people with disabilities; prescription drug coverage under the PACE program; pension programs for blind and paralyzed veterans; Medicare Part A and B premium payments; early intervention, autism and intellectual disability services funded through the Department of Human Services; state workers insurance fund payments; Commonwealth employee payroll, food and nutrition payments; public protection payments; and domestic violence program payments.
Question 5 - How will the budget impasse affect education funding?
Answer: to the extent these funds must be appropriated by the General Assembly, payments will not be processed until a budget is enacted for fiscal year 2025-26.
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Lower Frankford Farm Added to Pennsylvania Preserved Farms
Pennsylvania consistently leads the nation in farmland preservation. Lillie and Daniel Foster are part of that effort, as their 103-acre crop and livestock farm in Lower Frankford Township was recently added to the list.
Since 1988, Pennsylvania has protected 6,621 farms and 658,681 acres in 58 counties from future development, investing more than $1.78 billion in state, county and local funds.
The state partners with local governments and nonprofits to purchase development rights for preservation, ensuring a strong future for farming and food security. By selling development rights, farm owners ensure that their farms will remain productive farms and never be sold to developers.
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Voter Registration Deadline Oct. 20
The 2025 Municipal Election is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Municipal and school board positions will be on the ballot, along with statewide judicial elections. Voters will fill one open position each on the Commonwealth and Superior courts and consider retention of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices and two appellate court judges.
If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Monday, Oct. 20. You may register in person at your county elections office, by mail or by visiting the state’s online voter registration website.
To be eligible to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election; a resident of the election district in which you register to vote for at least 30 days before the election; and at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the election.
The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 28. Completed ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
For more information about voting in the Commonwealth, including how to check your registration and voting location, visit vote.pa.gov.
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District Office Closure – Columbus Day
Please note that our district office will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13 in observance of Columbus Day. We will resume normal hours on Tuesday, Oct. 14. We hope everyone has a great holiday!
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October 15 Fall Fair Senior Expo
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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