Four Months Without a Budget: Call on the Senate Now

Rep. Leanne Krueger October 7, 2025

PA Representative Leanne Krueger banner image

Dear Neighbor,

I am back in Harrisburg this week, where Pennsylvania still does not have a finalized budget as we enter our fourth month without a budget. House Democratic leadership and Governor Shapiro have been attempting to negotiate with Senate Republican leadership for months, but none of our proposals have received real action. Our most recent budget proposal did not raise taxes and made essential investments in Pennsylvania. Their most recent budget proposal cut $2B from health and human services programs that many of our neighbors depend on.

My office has started to get calls from individuals and local organizations who are worried about the lack of funding for essential programs and services. The ongoing delay helps no one.

This is the first session week that the House and Senate have been back in session at the same time in months. It’s time for the Senate to return to the table, listen to constituents, and work across the aisle to pass a fair and equitable budget that supports all Pennsylvanians.

I encourage you to contact your state senator and Senate Leadership and urge them to pass the state budget.

Take Action Here: https://www.pahouse.net/TakeAction?ac=187

Legislative Update

Even though the state budget still hasn’t been finalized, last week was a busy session week in Harrisburg as the House continued its work passing important legislation.

I voted yes on four-commonsense gun safety bills supported by law enforcement in the wake of the tragic murder of three police detectives in York County last month. Unfortunately, only one of those bills we ran last week passed the House: HB 1593 – requiring background checks for all gun purchases. The legislation now moves to the Senate. The other three gun safety bills failed on the House floor by one vote.

Last week the House passed several other important bills to strengthen consumer protection and support our neighbors:

HB 1704 – Requires home sellers to disclose flood-related risks to protect homebuyers.

HB 997 – Requires companies that collect personal data electronically to take reasonable steps to safeguard it from breaches.

HB 589 – Establishes a landslide and sinkhole insurance programs to help homeowners manage unexpected risks.

HB 78 – Expands consumer privacy rights and limits how businesses collect and use personal data.

Even as we continue working toward a final budget, I remain committed to supporting legislation that protects families, strengthens our communities, and builds a safer, more transparent Pennsylvania for everyone.

Next Week: A Change to Our Office Hours

My district office will be closed this coming Monday, October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. We will reopen Tuesday, October 14 at 9:00 a.m.

Crozer Bankruptcy Update

On behalf of Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals, I'm sharing a click-and-send campaign they've created to urge our community to stand up for the future of healthcare in Delaware County. PASNAP represented the nurses and many of the health care professionals who lost their jobs when Crozer Health closed earlier this year.

The judge overseeing the potential sale of Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Springfield Hospital, Judge Stacey Jernigan, is expected to hold a hearing on Friday, October 10 to hear a motion from Prospect to “abandon” Crozer-Chester and Springfield Hospitals. Prospect filed an emergency bankruptcy motion on Friday night "unless local authorities agree to its property tax demands," according to Harold Brubaker at the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Prospect's motion to abandon our hospitals seems like a scare tactic since we know there are multiple bids on both buildings. If they are successful, any effort to sell the buildings could be delayed by years. Prospect tried a similar strategy with Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Taylor Hospital before they sold - the Judge approved Prospect's motion to abandon those buildings at a hearing this summer, but Prospect then moved forward with sales of both buildings anyway. Taylor Hospital sold to a group of local investors and DCMH sold to Upper Darby School District last month.

PASNAP has launched a campaign to collect names of supporters urging the judge to prioritize reopening Crozer as a full-service hospital that meets the needs of our community. To add your name visit: https://pasnap.quorum.us/campaign/143635/

Hearings on Crozer have been scheduled and cancelled at the last minute recently. If you want to follow the hearings yourself, I encourage you to regularly check the website Prospect Medical Holdings has created to share public information, including court documents, updated hearing dates, and a link to watch the upcoming hearings. You can find the site here: https://cases.omniagentsolutions.com/?clientId=3725 and https://us-courts.webex.com/meet/jerniga

In the Capitol

Kids Music Day

I recently introduced House Resolution 299, designating October 3 as Kids Music Day in Pennsylvania to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this special event founded by Keep Music Alive. A Brookhaven-based nonprofit, Keep Music Alive, is dedicated to promoting music as an education, therapeutic, and social tool.

A Warm Welcome to Our Guest Page

Last Tuesday at the Capitol, I was honored to welcome William Lesniak as a guest Page in the House chamber. William is a 6th grader at Strath Haven Middle School in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District and a First Class Scout with Troop 272 Rose Valley.

He has a passion for history and enjoys learning how government works. While in the House chamber, William even had the chance to meet Speaker McClinton!

Outside the classroom, William plays the trombone and shares his talents on stage as a singer and actor at the Media Theatre. It was a pleasure having him join us at the Capitol.

If you are interested in learning about the Guest Page Program, please reach out to my office or email me to learn more about this unique opportunity.

Honoring a Wonderful 100th Birthday

One of the greatest joys of serving in Harrisburg is welcoming neighbors from our district to the Capitol. Last week, I was especially honored to recognize Ruth Heisner on the incredible occasion of her 100th birthday!

Ruth was joined by her daughters, Carol Seiverd and Cindy Murray, to celebrate this milestone. She was recognized in the House chamber and then enjoyed a tour of our beautiful Pennsylvania Capitol. Always up for new experiences, Ruth was excited to see state government in action as she follows politics closely.

What a joy to share this special day with Ruth and her family!

In the District

Upcoming Chester Water Authority Rate Increase

Many residents may have received a letter from the Chester Water Authority (CWA) this week outlining financial challenges and announcing a planned 14% rate increase beginning in 2026. I have not received an explanation from CWA directly and am working to get more information on why they are planning to raise rates.

It’s important to understand that CWA is a municipal water authority and not a private utility. This means it operates independently and is not regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), so rate changes do not require PUC review or approval (as opposed to the PECO rate increases that I opposed before the PUC).

This summer, I co-sponsored legislation to repeal Act 12, a law that has allowed municipal water and sewer systems in Pennsylvania to be sold to private, for-profit companies through questionable deals that often drive up rates for residents. This bill would pause future sales of public systems, giving the legislature time to work toward a long-term solution that protects ratepayers from unfair increases.

I have been vocal in advocating to keep the CWA in public hands and opposing a hostile takeover by Aqua. I’ll continue to monitor this situation closely and advocate for policies that protect ratepayers and preserve public control of this essential resource.

Delaware County Council Legislative Breakfast

Last Friday, I attended the Delaware County Legislative Breakfast at the new Department of Human Services Offices in Drexel Hill. We toured the impressive new facility and had meaningful discussions about the challenges and priorities facing DHS as they continue serving families and residents across the county.

Important Programs and Services

Your Vote Matters

As we approach the General Election on Tuesday, November 4, here are some key dates to remember:

Monday, October 20 – Last day to register to vote
Tuesday, October 28 – Last day to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot
Tuesday, November 4 – Election Day: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters must be in line by 8 p.m. to cast their ballot.
8 p.m., Tuesday, November 4 – Deadline for mail-in and absentee ballots to be received

To register to vote or request a mail-in or absentee ballot, visit vote.pa.gov.

The 2025 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) is open!

Pennsylvania has $5 million available to help schools, municipalities, nonprofits, and businesses make the switch to cleaner fuel transportation.

Grant funding covers:

• Incremental costs related to retrofitting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels.

• Incremental costs to purchase alternative fuel vehicles.

• Cost to purchase and install the necessary fleet-refueling or home-refueling equipment for alternative fuel vehicles.

• Cost to perform research, training, development, and demonstration of new applications or next-phase technology related to alternative fuel vehicles.

Application Deadline: October 10, 2025

See all the options, review guidelines, and apply: dep.pa.gov/afig

PennDOT’s Ninth Annual Innovations Challenge

PennDOT is inviting high school students in grades 9–12 across Pennsylvania to participate in its ninth annual Innovations Challenge. This statewide competition encourages teams to develop creative solutions to real-world transportation challenges.

Challenge Topic:
Students are asked to design a concept using artificial intelligence (AI) in work zones to improve safety for road crews and drivers. Entries should consider cost-effectiveness, statewide deployment, and public outreach.

Submissions are due by 11:59 PM on January 30, 2026.
Learn more and access resources here

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Oct 15

Open enrollment for Medicare will start October 15, 2025 and PA MEDI can help answer your questions about your plan.

PA MEDI provides easy-to-understand, unbiased help and information for those on Medicare, their families, and caregivers. PA MEDI does NOT sell or recommend Medicare insurance products, insurance agents, or brokers.

My office offers FREE, one-on-one Medicare counseling through PA MEDI.

Whether you’re new to Medicare, need help during open enrollment, have questions about Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans (Part D), or want to understand Medigap supplemental insurance – a trained PA MEDI counselor can guide you through it.

Appointments fill up quickly. Reach out to my office for an appointment.

For year-round Medicare assistance call your local PA MEDI program or the toll-free PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067 Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Our Events

Upcoming PA Medi Webinars

Please register by calling 610-534-6880 or email RepKrueger@pahouse.net

Medicare Updates

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

6 PM – 7 PM

Medicare 101

Monday, November 3, 2025

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Medicare Drug & Advantage Plan Comparisons

Monday, November 10, 2025

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

October Mobile Office Hours

Woodlyn

Thursday, October 9

1 PM – 3 PM

DCHA Kinder Park – Building 4 Community Room

1857 Constitution Ave., Woodlyn

Chester Township

Tuesday, October 14

1 PM – 3PM

DCHA Fairgrounds - Bridgeview Apartments

1301 Peterson St., Chester Township

Crum Lynne

Thursday, October 16

1 PM – 3 PM

American Legion FA Scott Post 777

137 Walter St., Crum Lynne

Upland Borough

Tuesday, October 21

1 PM – 3 PM

MacQueen Hall – 224 Castle Ave., Upland

Legal Resource Fair

Friday, October 17

NOON – 2 PM

Neumann University

Multipurpose Hall

John J. Mullen Communication Center

One Neumann Dr., Aston, PA 19014

Veterans Appreciation Lunch

Thursday, October 23

11 AM – 1 PM

American Legion Hall, Post 926

3220 Concord Rd., Aston, PA 19014

To RSVP, call 610-534-6880 or email RepKrueger@pahouse.net

Veterans and family members are invited to this event that I am co-hosting with Sen. John Kane for a FREE lunch and to learn about government-related programs and services available.