(The Center Square) – With no budget and no viable long-term transit solutions in sight, the Senate recessed till Oct. 20 on Wednesday.
Majority Leader Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, issued a statement, however, saying that the Philadelphia mass transit band-aid approved by PennDOT might allow for movement in the coming days.
Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed his budget to the legislature in early February of this year. The fiscal year for that budget began in July. Over two months past its deadline, some public institutions are beginning to falter.
Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-Pittsburgh, took to the floor to read from worried constituents. Libraries might soon find themselves shuttering, while support services in struggling school districts go without. Perhaps the largest line item taking an early hit from the budget shortfall was mass transit.
Senate Republicans passed a bill that would take from the transit capital fund, which has a dedicated use toward long-term infrastructure, equipment, and operations expenses. That plan was dead in the water for House Democrats, who viewed the expense as further defunding transit without a plan to recoup the money.
Then, SEPTA received a court order to restore the service cuts made after the state failed to come through with new funding. The agency was forced to request capital funds to fill in the gap, a move which Shapiro approved.
The Senate passed another transit bill Wednesday, this time drafted by Philadelphia’s only Republican legislator, Joe Picozzi. The senator said the bill would “reimagine the future of mass transit in Southeast Pennsylvania” through public-private partnerships and increased policing but did not include a revenue stream for the agency.
Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, an outspoken advocate for transit, proposed a funding amendment to the bill which was tabled before the bill was passed.
Pittman framed the capital funding as a victory for the Senate, treating it as a closed case without speaking on Democratic opposition to Wednesday’s bill.
“With Democrats removing transit from the budget table last week by providing funding through the method we suggested, the frequency and detail of discussions have increased and could allow for a budget agreement to be finalized within the next several days,” said Pittman.
House Transportation Chair, Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, issued a statement decrying Senate Republicans’ solution. He noted that while SEPTA and Pittsburgh Regional Transit have the option to borrow from the capital fund, transit in the rest of the state will suffer from budget shortfalls.
“After immense public pressure they finally came back to work and passed their version of the several bills sent from the House more than a month ago,” said Neilson. “The Senate insisted on playing politics while House Democrats stood up for Pennsylvanians and worked to protect their livelihoods. Now the very same senators who set the fire want to be applauded for standing back and watching it burn.”
Pittman acknowledged the consequences of protracted talks.
“While I am encouraged by the meaningful work at the negotiating table, currently there is no global agreement on a budget deal, as several fiscal and policy issues remain outstanding,” said Pittman. “Reaching consensus swiftly would prevent negative impacts of a budget impasse being shouldered by counties, school districts, hospitals and all those who rely on state government services.”
The question of whether the Senate would resume work if a budget deal came into view was left open.
“Following the conclusion of three voting session days this week, the Senate now remains on a 24-hour call,” said Pittman. “Session days beyond what are presently scheduled for the Fall will likely be necessary once a budget agreement is reached.”
