Push comes to shove – Pennsylvania ends $50 billion budget crisis by sacrificing climate change programs to pay for public schools.

Photo above - The Sistine Chapel. Oops, my bad - this is the Pennsylvania legislature in Scranton, where a $50 billion budget crisis was finally resolved last night after 4 months.

The people have spoken. Schools are a higher priority than EV mandates and windmill subsidies. (see at bottom). The director of PennEnvironment immediately derided the budget agreement as "a day of infamy". It is not known if he has any children in Pennsylvania public schools.

Various Pennsylvania government workers haven’t been paid since JUNE 2025 as this hobbit sized state government shutdown meandered along. Schools, social workers, and revenue sharing with counties were suspended on July 1st due to the impasse. Perhaps the Pennsylvania budget was inspired by the federal shutdown truce?

In any case, Pennsylvania has both a democrat governor and a lower chamber (legislature responsible for spending), so this budget compromise cannot be characterized as republicans forcing their will on a helpless minority.

The breakthrough was made possible by a majority of Pennsylvania’s officials agreeing that it was dumb to join the RGGI – regional greenhouse gas initiative - if it meant more bad schools, unfilled pot holes, and unstaffed first responder positions. Previous (democrat) Governor Tom Wolf signed up for for RGGI participation in 2022 through an executive order. He bypassed debate and vote in the legislature. This is why I'm dubious about all executive orders.

To his credit, former governor Tom Wolf (no relation to white suited dandy/author Tom Wolfe) retired graciously at age 75, stepping back from the gerontocracy plaguing our government at all levels.

For the record, I share the widespread view that greenhouse gas emissions are noxious, and I would object to having a coal fired electric plant next door to me. That said, I also believe executive orders are noxious – whether they come from the White House or some random Governor’s mansion. We live in a constitutional democracy. Observe the separation of powers at all times, please.

I’m just sayin’ . . .



Pa. lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro have approved a $50.1 billion state budget, officially ending monthslong impasse

Pa. budget deal kills major program to control greenhouse gases