Recent News
Senate Passes Bill to Waive Interest on Short-Term Budget Impasse Loans
Pennsylvania counties, early education programs, rape prevention and domestic violence prevention centers could pay no interest on loans from the Pennsylvania Treasury under legislation approved by the Senate today, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13). [Read More]
House Democrats Take Budget Steps Backwards
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) issued the following statement today on the state budget: [Read More]
E-news Updates – October 4, 2025
In this Update: Indiana County Envirothon Providing Loan Interest Forgiveness to Counties and Head Start Rock the Ribbon During Breast Cancer Awareness Month Open Government: How to Access Public Records Applications Accepted for Keystone ChalleNGe Academy January Class Resources for Choosing an Insurance Provider Find the Best Fall Foliage Nearby and Statewide Indiana County Envirothon […] [Read More]
Senate Republicans to Introduce Legislation Providing Loan Interest Forgiveness to Counties and Head Start
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced their intention to introduce legislation forgiving the interest on loans following the announcement by State Treasurer Stacy Garrity to help Head Start providers and counties during the state budget impasse. [Read More]
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๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ
HARRISBURG โ Senator Joe Pittman (R-41) issued the following statement on the state budget:
โIn July, when House Democrats came to the realization that Governor Shapiroโs $51.5 billion budget proposal for 2025-26 spent too much money, they sent the Senate a $50.6 billion version that was not agreed-to. Today, they sent yet another unagreed-to budget to the Senate, this one spending $50.25 billion. After months without a state budget, the latest act by the House has taken steps backwards, not forwards. With the state budget being due 100 days ago, it is long past time for Democrats to stop their games and to complete a responsible budget that doesnโt seek to spend billions more than we can afford by using one-time dollars.
โPennsylvanians deserve a functioning government which respects hardworking taxpayers. What Democrats continuously fail to realize is that divided government requires true compromise. This means a final budget agreement cannot simply be a checkbook for their reckless spending but must be a reasonable plan, which also includes Republican policies to support families and foster greater #economicgrowth for #Pennsylvania. Ten years ago, the state budget spent just over $30 billion. The substantial budgetary increase over the last decade makes it clear that we must control the growth of our expenditures to prevent a fiscal calamity in the coming years.
โUntil Democrats are willing to come to the table with a unified voice and a respect for the differences we have, we will remain at an impasse. The most prudent action for the House to take would be to immediately pass last yearโs budget as the Senate did back on August 12, to get money flowing today. The only reason anyone who relies on government services and support is feeling negative impacts from the impasse is because of the Democratsโ unwillingness to put people above #politics.โ
๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ
Eight weeks ago on August 12, @pasenategop advanced a spending plan that would fund #Pennsylvania state programs and services at the previous yearโs levels while 2025-26 budget negotiations continue.
House Democrats could have passed that bill any time during the past two months. In fact, they could still pass it today and join with us to help those feeling negative impacts from this prolonged budget impasse.
Divided government brings differing perspectives. But no matter what our disagreements may be on spending, taxes, and public policy, we should all be able to agree that our most vulnerable citizens who rely on #government services shouldnโt have to suffer.
๐๏ธ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐
Thank you to Todd Marino for inviting me to join him on @wccsnewstalk โIndiana in the Morningโ program on Friday.
I appreciated the opportunity to stop by the studio to discuss several key issues impacting our commonwealth, including #energyadvancement, the 2025-26 state budget, #economicdevelopment, and the future fiscal stability of #Pennsylvania.
๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐
It was great to sit down with the @pachamber in my Harrisburg office earlier this week to discuss the significance of permitting reform in Pennsylvania. We recognize the trajectory of this Commonwealth is such that we need #EconomicOpportunity, and the only way we have economic opportunity is if we get more shovels in the ground. #permitting reform still means responsible projects, protecting the environment, making sure the projects are done safely and properly - but also promptly.
There is certainly a lot more to do, but the reforms we have worked to implement already, signal that #Pennsylvania is open for business and that we`re prepared to embrace new development and new economic opportunity. Senate Republicans know this is a critical part of #JobCreation and helping to increase access to family sustaining jobs.
๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ
Thousands of people made the trip to Harrisburg to support the unborn during Pennsylvaniaโs March for Life Rally on Monday. The Marchโs powerful presence rooted in hope and strength, demonstrates the significance of the movement. A sincere thank you to those who attended the events and to everyone who stopped by my office.
๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฌ & ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
I was pleased to participate in the recent โEggs and Issues Breakfastโ, hosted by the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce.
I appreciate Chamber President Mark Hilliard asking me to be a part of this annual event. It was great to join my friends and colleagues, Rep. Jim Struzzi and Rep. Brian Smith to discuss #legislation and current issues impacting #communities across #pennsylvania. Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend!
๐๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐
โThe horror we saw yesterday with the murder of Charlie Kirk, the recent mass violence within communities, and the targeting of individuals who offer a different political perspective is abhorrent. The epidemic of violence in all forms must be condemned.
โ24 years ago on September 11, 2001, the United States of America was attacked. The vile and cowardly actions of terrorists that day changed our world. In the days, weeks, and months following the attack, the violence which shook our nation to the core ultimately led to Americans becoming more united in our resolve to come together.
โThe past cannot be changed, but it is imperative we continue to learn from it, as we did after 9/11. Violence and hate have no place, and we must work to shape a better future in which discord is respectful. May God Bless our Nation.โ
#neverforget #charliekirk #unitedwestand
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With Democrats removing transit from the budget table last week by providing funding through the method we suggested, the frequency and detail of discussions have increased and could allow for a budget agreement to be finalized within the next several days.
While I am encouraged by the meaningful work at the negotiating table, currently there is no global agreement on a budget deal, as several fiscal and policy issues remain outstanding. Reaching consensus swiftly would prevent negative impacts of a budget impasse being shouldered by #counties, school districts, hospitals and all those who rely on #StateGovernment services.
Following the conclusion of three voting session days this week, the #PASenate now remains on a 24-hour call. Session days beyond what are presently scheduled for the Fall will likely be necessary once a budget agreement is reached.
