pa-budget-2021

Pa. barbers, salons to get $20M in belated pandemic relief

BY: - August 19, 2021

The $20 million comes from a pool of $370 million in federal stimulus money allocated to Gov. Tom Wolf’s office in the 2021-22 budget. He signed the spending plan into law at the end of June.

COMMENTARY

Our teachers are essential workers. We need to treat — and pay them — that way | Opinion

BY: - July 18, 2021

I think it is time for us, as parents and grandparents, to stand up for our teachers and our public schools.

State funding for Pa. public broadcasting eliminated in new budget

BY: - July 9, 2021

It’s hard to say why the cuts were made and who made them. Legislative Republicans say it matched a request from Wolf., An administration spokesperson claimed Republicans did not agree to the funding.

COMMENTARY

Were Wolf’s budget season trades worth the price of a deal? Democrats may find out in 2022 | Mark O’Keefe

BY: - July 5, 2021

Was Gov. Tom Wolf trying to put a good face on the $40.8 billion state budget recently passed by the General Assembly, calling it a “good budget?” While Wolf was happy the Legislature passed the budget ahead of the June 30 deadline; it contained none of the significant proposals he made during his budget address […]

Pgh to get e-scooter pilot program thanks to provision included in the state budget

BY: - July 4, 2021

E-scooters are ridden while standing, and typically travel the speed of cyclists. They are different from electric mopeds (like Scoobi) and electric-assist bikes, aka e-bikes.

GOP Legislature says it funded election audits; Wolf, Auditor General DeFoor disagree

BY: - June 29, 2021

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:03 p.m. 6/29/21 to reflect that Erica Clayton Wright told the Capital-Star that the draft budget was “out of date.” Under pressure from former supporters of President Donald Trump, Pennsylvania’s legislative Republicans gave $3.1 million to the state’s auditor general to fund future election audits. But the problem? […]

COMMENTARY

Pa. Rep. Perry faces heat for comparing Dems to Nazis during speech | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 29, 2021

'They're not the loyal opposition any more. They're the opposition ... they want to destroy the country,' U.S. Rep. Scott Perry said during a recent speech.

COMMENTARY

‘Your silence is deafening’: Here’s who came away empty-handed in this year’s Pa. budget vote | Monday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 28, 2021

The $40 billion budget plan garnered plenty of praise for what it included, but also scorn for what it notably left out.

Wolf to sign $40.8B budget that spends on education, saves billions for the future

BY: and - June 25, 2021

“This year’s budget reflects resilience,” Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said.

College athletes in line to gain control over image, likeness in Pa. budget bill

BY: - June 25, 2021

At least 20 states have signed similar proposals into law in the last year, according to the sports business analyst Kristi Dosh.

$40B Pa. budget revealed in Harrisburg; saves $5B in federal aid for future

BY: , and - June 25, 2021

Republican leaders indicated that Wolf has agreed to the proposal. A spokesperson for Wolf did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

COMMENTARY

These are the best and worst-run cities in the country. How did Pgh. and Philly stack up? | Friday Morning Coffee

BY: - June 25, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic tested local leadership like never before. Who passed and who failed?