Rep. Jamie Barton, who represents Berks and Schuylkill counties, has commented on the recently passed General Appropriations bill for Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 fiscal year. Barton acknowledged concerns about the overall spending but emphasized that policy changes in the budget are significant for the state.
“Budget negotiations are twofold. We have to reach an agreement on the dollar figure the state intends to spend during the fiscal year, and there’s the accompanying policy that impacts our state revenue. While I’m not thrilled about the total spending number, the policies we’ve negotiated are incredibly important for the future of our Commonwealth,” Barton said.
One of the major changes included in this budget is a repeal of regulations that placed Pennsylvania in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). According to Barton, “As part of this budget deal, the General Assembly will be repealing the regulations that put us into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is responsible for Pennsylvania losing out on 22,000 direct energy related jobs and nearly $8 billion in economic development. It was also projected to increase utility bills on Pennsylvanians by an average of 30% by 2030. With RGGI out of the way, we can maximize our energy potential, ensure the reliability of our power grid and keep energy costs affordable for our families.”
The budget also includes measures aimed at verifying eligibility for public assistance programs such as Medical Assistance and SNAP. Barton noted issues with able-bodied adults without dependents receiving Medicaid while disabled individuals remain on waiting lists: “This budget deal will also provide benefit integrity by ensuring those who receive benefits are the ones who truly need them. In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million able-bodied adults without dependents are enrolled in Medicaid while over 14,000 disabled individuals remain on a waiting list for services. This budget deal requires the Department of Human Services to conduct several additional checks against recipients of Medical Assistance and SNAP to ensure eligibility and guard against fraud.“
Other provisions include increased investments in school choice initiatives and reforms to permitting processes. Barton stated his reservations about spending levels but pointed out that “While I still believe $50.1 billion is too much, it’s $1.4 billion below what the governor was trying to spend.” He added that compromises were made: “Because this deal does not involve dipping into our Rainy Day Fund, avoids the legalization of recreational marijuana, and comes with massive policy improvements, I’m proud to support this budget agreement.”
The new budget reflects ongoing debates over fiscal responsibility and policy direction within Pennsylvania government.
