February 7, 2025
We are now just days away from watching the Philadelphia Eagles finally end the Super Bowl dynasty of the Kansas City Swifties. Oops, the Kansas City Chiefs. Hard to tell the difference these days. For all the coverage you can possibly consume, the Inky has a good primer today. Fly, Eagles, fly! If they haven’t yet greased all the lamp posts on Bourbon Street, somebody better get to work!
The eyes of Pennsylvania were on Gov. Josh Shapiro this week, as he delivered his third state budget address. His new spending plan clocked in at $51 billion and some change, a 7.4% increase over last year. The big difference? This year’s plan relies on some new revenue streams (more on those later) and a $1.6 billion transfer from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Those facts added together, dear reader, are how you set yourself up for the most strenuous (and likely cantankerous) budget debate of Shapiro’s tenure. For our part, we really missed having a budget deadlock that stretches into August. Or September.
The big budget winner, again, is basic education funding, with Shapiro asking for north of a half-billion clams for the wee ones who are stuck in so-called “underfunded” districts. Shapiro and the Democrats argue that the courts have mandated this spend, while the GOP is likely to remind everyone that there is more than one way to spend education loot up in here. With the governor’s re-election campaign getting larger in the windshield, you can bet your communion money you are gonna hear a lot about lifeline scholarships. As Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor reminds us, “everyday is exactly the same” in Harrisburg.
As we mentioned all the way back two paragraphs ago, Shapiro announced two new state revenue sources to help bridge the yawning dollar gap. First up will be the taxing and regulation of so-called skill games, which are like slot machines but DON’T YOU DARE CALL THEM SLOT MACHINES! In any case, Shapiro wants to tax those games at the exact same rate the state levies on slot machines, which caused quite the outcry from folks who are used to not being taxed at all. Yeah, taxes can be a real shock to the system, huh? We give this one a solid one-in-two chance of becoming law this year.
Then there is the legalization of recreational weed, which is, to be kind, a much heavier lift. We are being kind here. What we have learned in our travels in and about state government is that revenue deficits can make elected officials vote for stuff they normally would never vote for (see: legalized gaming, 2004), but it remains to be seen whether this budget cycle is tight enough to force everyone’s hand. So, despite the fact that states all around us have already legalized marijuana, we give this one a one-in-four chance this year. But remember, the legislature runs on a two-year cycle. So, stay hopeful, kick back, and smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Buried deep in the governor’s budget book, but nowhere to be found in his 90-minute speech, is a plan to close two state correctional facilities. Of course, this move set off the normal hue and cry from those who work in and around correctional facilities. But it is no secret that Republicans and Democrats have worked hand-in-hand for years on criminal justice reform, so the logical end game is fewer inmates. What’s the use in reforming criminal justice if we are just gonna keep locking everyone up? And If marijuana legalization passes, two closed prisons could turn into three or four pretty damned quickly.
Shapiro spent a few minutes Tuesday proposing a plan for state investment in childcare services, since both sides of the aisle realize that you can’t have a great workforce unless somebody is there to make sure your kid is not eating paste or playing with matches all day. This realization may also explain the new bipartisan push for paid family leave in Pennsylvania. There are two populations in Pennsylvania who will drive public policy in the next few years: the children and the elderly. And caring for those populations ain’t free, kids.
Help may be on the way for rural hospitals, we found out this week. A mere day after Shapiro outlined his plan for rural health care, a House committee sprang into action to heed his call. That’s the type of coordination that would make Nick Sirianni proud.
Before we leave all of this budget talk behind, this is your reminder that Team Triad’s Todd Brysiak and Mike Manzo were on the airwaves giving you insight into this year’s plan. And keep in mind, they gave that stuff away for FREE. Imagine what our clients get.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman seems to be enjoying his new role making progressives happy one day, while calling for his head the next. This week, Fetterman broke with his party and voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi. What a shame it would be if Fetterman’s willingness to work with the president resulted in good things for Pennsylvania.
Time for a big shout-out to former Triad client and longtime friend John Pippy, who is now Pennsylvania’s adjutant general. Way to go, Big John (the other Big John.)
In election news, we found out that counties that allow voters to correct mail-in ballot errors have a much lower rate of ballot rejection, which honestly, should have been self-evident without a fancy study. For the counties that do not allow so-called ballot curing, rejections were much higher and often included instructions to affected voters such as, “too bad, so sad, no vote for you!” And “kick rocks, see ya next time sucker!”
Out in the Golden Triangle, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and his challenger, County Controller Corey O’Connor, had their first debate this week. Alas, it wasn’t nearly nasty enough for us to report on, so stay tuned. Maybe it will get less cordial next time around.
In our We Can’t Make This Up segment, we begin by informing you that Team Triad is proud to represent some of the most amazing public gardens anywhere in the country, and you should check them out soon. Now, off to Australia, where teeming crowds cannot get enough of Putricia the rotting corpse plant. The acrid smell of this blooming affront to God is attracting folks from the four corners of the earth, just hoping to catch a whiff of its horrendous stench. Or, you know, you could just go to the Philadelphia Flower Show and NOT throw up. Up to you.
That’s what passes for news around here as the General Assembly gets ready to kick the tires on the governor’s budget. We already have our front row seats, so tag along if you want! Or remain blissfully unaware of YOUR state government. Either way, GO EAGLES! From all your friends at Team Triad, have a super weekend!