HARRISBURG – Senate Appropriations Committee members raised serious questions about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plans to limit funding for road and bridge projects while increasing funding for mass transit during budget hearings today.
The governor’s $51.5 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2025-26 features a 7.5% spending increase over the current year. Senate Republicans have previously projected that Shapiro’s spending plan would create a funding shortfall of more than $27 billion over the next five years.
Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
The governor’s budget request for PennDOT is $2.9 billion, an increase of $80.7 million over the current year. Shapiro’s budget proposes to slow down the phase-out of the State Police from the Motor License Fund from the current $125 million to $50 million. The Secretary of Transportation previously praised the $125 million annual phase-out before it was cut to $50 million by the governor.
Gov. Shapiro’s budget would also direct an additional $273.9 million to mass transit without any corresponding increase in funding for roads and bridges. Under the governor’s plan, more than $200 million of the new mass transit funding would be directed to one agency: the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
Video Highlights
Questions were raised about why more than $150 million in federal highway funds were flexed to support SEPTA and what impact that decision will have on current and proposed construction projects.
Reduced ridership of SEPTA has not led to an examination of modifying routes and finding other efficiencies to reduce costs.
The Secretary of Transportation confirmed the slowdown of the phase-out of the State Police from the Motor License Fund is a result of the Commonwealth’s structural imbalance. The negative impacts of this funding cut for roads and bridges was discussed.
The slowdown of the phase-out is expected to make $375 million less available for road and bridge projects over the next five years.
The cost and questionable use of PennDOT’s taxpayer-funded plane by Gov. Shapiro and staff were highlighted.
Lawmakers received an update on the efforts to help Pennsylvanians comply with REAL ID requirements and associated costs.
An update was provided on cleanup and repair following the recent plane crash in northeast Philadelphia.
Department of State
Gov. Shapiro’s budget request for the Department of State includes several noteworthy spending increases, including a 4.5% increase in General Government Operations, a 22% increase for voter registration and education, and a 63% increase for lobbying disclosure.
Video Highlights
Gov. Shapiro’s budget plan does not include any additional funding for the Department of State in the five-year planning period beyond the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
The 22% proposed increase in voter registration and education was questioned considering the historic voter turnout in the 2024 General Election.
The Department of State is requesting $1.3 million to publish potential amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution, despite the fact that there are no amendments currently in the pipeline.
The 63% increase in funding proposed for lobbyist disclosure was questioned.
The department was encouraged to ease regulatory burdens on professions that require licensure to ensure there are fewer barriers to employment.
The importance of supporting career pathways for veterans was explored.
The benefits to county election operations resulting from the Election Integrity Grant Program created by lawmakers in 2022 were highlighted.
Potential penalties were discussed for bad actors attempting to violate election laws.
The importance of implementing commonsense Voter ID requirements was discussed.
The Department of State confirmed they do not independently track the number of medical marijuana certifications prescribed by physicians to identify potential problems without a complaint being filed. While most doctors who prescribe medical marijuana issue fewer than 100 certifications annually for patients, three doctors in Pennsylvania have prescribed more than 11,000 per year on average.
You can find recaps and video from every Senate budget hearing at PASenateGOP.com.
CONTACT: Jason Thompson