Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Schlossberg releases statement on today’s House budget vote

Schlossberg releases statement on today’s House budget vote

Rep. Mike Schlossberg    October 8, 2025 | 5:03 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 8 – State. Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, released the following statement Wednesday after the Pennsylvania House of Representatives again passed a state budget bill and sent it to the Senate, which has yet to act of any of the previous budgets sent over by the House:

“Once again, the House of Representatives has approved a budget for 2025-2026. It continues to move Pennsylvania further than ever before to secure fair funding for schools in Parkland and Allentown, greatly bolsters resources for mental and behavioral health care, adds to services available for seniors, and does what the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans cannot seem to do -- GET STUFF DONE FOR PENNSYLVNIA.

“For months now, the people of Parkland and Allentown have been looking to Harrisburg to get the budget resolved. Now we see the effects of it not getting done: rape crisis centers, centers for independent living, food pantries, community organizations -- all forced to furlough staff, take out lines of credit and, in some cases, close their doors.

“House Majority leadership has gone out on a limb once again and we are showing our willingness to compromise but deliver on what is important. As a result, we will continue the historic work to address funding for local community schools so they can invest in our kids. We will invest in mental health and behavioral health care so people struggling can realize the freedom of independent living. 

“Rather than working with the House Democratic Majority, during the summer, Senate Republicans passed a copy-and-paste budget that flat funded every line item. That’s beyond unacceptable. If that was a school assignment turned into the teacher, it would be returned as ‘incomplete’ with a note to try again and do better. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward admitted in an interview today that Senate Republicans don’t have 26 votes to pass a budget. The dysfunction of Republican leadership in Washington and Harrisburg has never been more clearly on display. Well, if Senate Republicans can’t lead, they need to get out of the way so we can get this done. The people of Pennsylvania deserve much better than what they can deliver.”