Luzerne Times

Rep. Alec Ryncavage from Luzerne commented on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $48.34 billion state budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Ryncavage expressed concerns about the feasibility of balancing the increased spending without resorting to depleting reserves or increasing taxes. He questioned some of the revenue projections as being unrealistic and highlighted the need for careful examination of the proposed changes in education and Medicaid funding.

Ryncavage criticized the governor's plan to reduce the legislative oversight needed for funding decisions in higher education. He claimed, "Gov. Shapiro’s proposal to limit the Legislature’s input from a two-thirds vote to a simple majority vote, when putting tax dollars into for-profit colleges and universities, lacks transparency and accountability."

He pointed out that despite it being early in the budget process, legislative progress has been slow. “We are 37 days into the year, and this was the House of Representative’s first Session day of 2024,” he noted. He referenced the ongoing "partisan gridlock" affecting legislative operations, mentioning a delayed budget completion the previous year and the absence of any voting sessions in 2024 so far. He observed a decline in session days compared to a Republican majority and warned of potential further budget delays.

Ryncavage remarked, “I fear that another delayed budget could be on the horizon.”