1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The ongoing Pennsylvania state budget impasse has reached a critical point, stretching to an unprecedented 128 days as of November 2025. This delay is not just a political deadlock; it's a crisis affecting our schools, counties, and essential services across the Commonwealth. Our schools are bearing the brunt of this impasse. They are being forced to borrow money just to keep their doors open, a situation that is both unsustainable and unfair to our children and educators. Billions of dollars in unpaid distributions are crippling our education system, and the longer this continues, the more severe the long-term consequences will be. This is not just about education. Counties are furloughing workers, and there are widespread hiring freezes and program cuts. These actions directly impact the most vulnerable members of our communities who rely on these services. What's particularly frustrating is that this is the fourth consecutive year our state budget has missed its June 30 deadline. This pattern suggests a systemic problem that needs addressing. I urge you to not only work tirelessly to pass this year's budget immediately but also to support measures that will prevent such impasses in the future. Proposals such as suspending pay for lawmakers during budget delays or withholding raises if a budget isn't passed on time should be seriously considered. These measures would align the interests of our legislators with those of the constituents they serve. The normalization of late budgets is unacceptable. It undermines the stability of our state, erodes public trust, and causes real harm to Pennsylvanians. We need decisive action now. Please, work with your colleagues across all four legislative caucuses and the governor's office to break this deadlock. Our schools, our communities, and our future depend on it. Pass the budget now. The 128-day delay is already too long. Every additional day without a budget exacerbates the damage to our state's institutions and the people they serve. Let's not allow this crisis to persist any longer.