Success or stalling?
Pa. House leaders have differing views on start of fall legislative session
Leaders of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives left on Wednesday following a three-week session with divergent views about what was accomplished.
Republicans seemed satisfied with progress made in some areas. But they admit some — a school choice bill and election reform to name two — were left short of the goal line.
Democrats, meanwhile, came away frustrated that the state is holding on to so much bank and not spending it on programs to help people recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, said the House came back “to get some wins and I think some important fronts were addressed for the people of Pennsylvania.”
It delivered on its first extension of a disaster declaration since being granted that power through a constitutional amendment voters approved in May. This one was to facilitate the response to the after-effects of Tropical Storm Ida.
It passed a law to stiffen penalties on those who aid or encourage suicide. Among other bills it passed, it extended the suspension of some regulations and laws, particularly in the public health arena, first put in place at the onset of the pandemic to help fight COVID-19 and get the state back on track.
“The work we did is emblematic of what we can do when we work together in the type of cooperative government the people of Pennsylvania expect,” Mr. Benninghoff said.
But House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia said not enough was done.
While acknowledging some important votes did happen, she said, “We have not taken up legislation to actually move forward with investing in Pennsylvania.”
She and other Democratic leaders said they aren’t happy that none of the legislation the House passed made use of the billions the state has squirreled away from federal COVID-19 aid or the $2.6 billion sitting in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
They wanted to see action on bills to direct some of that money to programs identified in her caucus’ Pennsylvania Rescue Plan that makes investments in businesses, public health, family support and workforce development.
“Three weeks of divisive rhetoric, waste of time, antichoice rallies, insane bills on the floor, without anything that delivers for Pennsylvania,” said House Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Bradford of Montgomery County.
“We really need to start talking about the serious issues in front of us. We have dollars in the bank that we should be talking about making selective smart, long-term investments for the competitiveness and growth of this commonwealth,” Mr. Bradford added.
But House Republicans believe they are investing that money smartly.
By holding on to the billions that have been stashed away, they believe it will guard against future tax increases that may be necessary to balance the budget, given the economic uncertainty still remaining from the pandemic.
“Throwing taxpayer money at problems is not the exclusive way of addressing them,” said House GOP spokesman Jason Gottesman.
House Democratic Whip Jordan Harris of Philadelphia countered by arguing that for some Pennsylvanians, their problems could be solved by spending those taxpayer dollars now.
“Imagine you giving me money and instead of helping you pay for your childcare, instead of me helping you get broadband access, instead of me giving you paid sick leave, I keep your money,” Mr. Harris said. “That’s what we’re talking about.”
The House returns to session on Oct. 25.
Mr. Benninghoff said transportation funding, reforms to the state’s way of investing in higher education, pushing broadband access, election reform, mental health, workforce development and business tax reform are among the issues that are on the agenda of the party that controls the chamber.
Democrats, meanwhile, say they will resume pushing their COVID-19 recovery plan and urging a larger conversation on addressing inequities in K-12 school funding.
The state Senate returns to session on Oct. 18.