The 5(ish) Tweets that sum up a most unusual budget season | Wednesday Morning Coffee

Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Working into the night on Tuesday, the Legislature advanced a $25 billion budget that will provide five months’ worth of funding to help see the state cope with the economic devastation dealt by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the Capital-Star’s Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison report, the spending plan passed the House on a 103-99 vote, before heading to the Senate, which positioned it for a series of floor votes this week.

Here, then, the five Tweets that capture the essence of Tuesday night’s relatively low-impact debate.

1. They’ve found a riff, they’re sticking with it — The Republican edition.

#PAHouse Provides Stability to State in Advancing Responsible #PABudget

✳ https://t.co/IOyyJiDEBm pic.twitter.com/r0KfcrRbqk

— PA House Republicans 🇺🇸 (@PAHouseGOP) May 26, 2020

And the Democratic response:

Tonight the House passed a five-month budget that flat funds most state gov’t lines until November and fails to apply the fair funding formula to school districts.

Chairman @RepBradford spoke about the challenges this will present in the fall: https://t.co/j1VMYlYSIh pic.twitter.com/yIPiNymgGm

— PA House Appropriations (D) (@HDApprops) May 27, 2020

2. Remembering those on the front lines.

Our nurses, grocery store workers and janitors are on the front lines. We need a #PABudget that provides PPE and protects their wages! On May 28, we’ll bring our worker stories and demands to the Capitol for a virtual day of action. Join us! https://t.co/YGrBBmLhK6 pic.twitter.com/MvYikoFosn

— We The People-PA (@pawethepeople) May 26, 2020

3. They’re from a think-tank. They’re here to help.
From the right ...

Solutions to Preventing Tax Increases in 2021 https://t.co/0jXGEJVmgI #pabudget

— NathanBenefield (@NathanBenefield) May 26, 2020

And the left:

The pandemic is magnifying existing inequalities in our communities. We will not go back to business as usual. More than ever, we need Harrisburg to pass a fair #PABudget that puts #peoplefirst! https://t.co/kdff6AbAZo pic.twitter.com/BPSllymQA6

— PA Budget and Policy Center (@PBPC) May 26, 2020

4. And what of the schools?

"…the proposal includes flat funding for all levels of education from preschool to colleges & universities for all of 2020-21… It also provides for full-year funding for food programs that have seen unprecedented demand…" https://t.co/60BJS1JNt6

— PSEA (@PSEA) May 26, 2020

5. Hey! No horning in on our act.

https://twitter.com/dandoubet/status/1265248249625161729?s=20

Our Stuff.
Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison stayed up late watching the Legislature so you didn’t have to. Here’s their full report on the stopgap plan apparently barreling towards Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.

Still wondering which Pennsylvania businesses applied for a waiver from the Wolf administration’s shutdown order? Elizabeth Hardison put together this searchable database of who asked for what.

From our partners at the Pittsburgh Current, a look at the steps Allegheny County is taking, including reducing polling places, to ensure voter safety during the June 2 primary. Not everyone is taking kindly to those steps, however.

A pair of Philly Dems, Rep. Joanna McClinton, and Sen. Tony Williams, dropped off masks, gloves and other protective supplies to senior residences in southwest Philly, our partners at the Philadelphia Tribune report.

On our Commentary Page this morning, opinion regular Anwar Curtis returns with some advice for the graduating seniors out there. Opinion regular Simon Haeder has some thoughts on how Pennsylvania can get creative to protect vulnerable elders during a pandemic. And community colleges will play a key role in helping the state emerge from the pandemic, the head of Pa.’s community college system writes.

Elsewhere.
Montgomery County has gone to court to get the deadline for mail-in ballots extended, the Inquirer reports.
Democratic leaders in Pittsburgh are criticizing mailers that are ‘spreading falsehoods’ about Rep. Summer Lee, Pittsburgh City Paper reports.
PennLive looks at the latest push for liquor privatization.
Pennsylvania State Police have cited a Lehigh Valley gym owner who reopened despite state orders, the Morning Call reports.

Here’s your #Pennsylvania Instagram of the Day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_a3kGPji5o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Philadelphia restaurants are now open for in-person orders, WHYY-FM reports.
An increase in applications for SNAP benefits is the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ WESA-FM reports.
Stateline.org looks at the plight of unemployed single mothers amid the pandemic.
Democrats on Capitol Hill are more likely to expand their majority than lose it this November, according to a new Roll Call analysis.

What Goes On.
The House comes in at 11 a.m. The Senate gavels in at a leisurely 1 p.m.
Here’s a look at the day’s committee action. All sessions are live-streamed.
First, up the Senate:
10 a.m: Senate Democratic Policy Committee/House Democratic Policy Committee
11 a.m.: Game & Fisheries Committee
11:30 a.m.: Intergovernmental Operations
Call of the Chair: Health & Human Services

Here’s the House:
9 a.m., 60 East Wing: Children & Youth Committee
9:30 a.m., 205 Ryan: Finance Committee
10 a.m., G50 Irvis: Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee
10 a.m: Democratic Policy Committee/Senate Democratic Policy Committee
10 a.m., B31 Main Capitol: Local Government Committee

Time TBD: Daily COVID-19 briefing

You Say It’s Your Birthday Dept. 
Best wishes go out this morning to Glenn Hamilton, a DJ at Harrisburg rock station (and Pa. Senate squawk box soundtracking) WRVV 97.3 FM, who celebrates today. Congratulations, sir. Enjoy the day.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s one from singer-songwriter David Keenan. It’s ‘Altar Wine.’

Wednesday’s Gratuitous Hockey Link.
It’s official: The NHL plans a return to play with a 24-team playoff format, with teams competing in two locations. The date, however, is still TBA.

And now you’re up to date.