Tessera

The issues page on the Stacy Garrity for Governor website is blank at the moment. A spokesman said it’a because a “technical issue with the website and it is being addressed now.” He also noted that he received 4 inquires about the page in a 5-minute span.

When Pa. lawmakers passed a state budget, leaders praised it for being a fiscally responsible $50.8 billion product that doesn’t dip into the rainy day fund. That’s a misleading picture. To reach that number, they had to employ some accounting tricks. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/07...

PA’s budget is only balanced because of accounting tricks

The budget delays billions in payments to organizations that manage healthcare for PA Medicaid recipients

spotlightpa.org

Pa. adopts $50.8B budget that sends more money to poorest schools, skips difficult policy questions w/ @StephenJ_Caruso www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/07...

PA lawmakers adopt $50.8B budget

The plan also preserves the state’s nearly $8 billion rainy day fund by using off-budget “special” funds and accounting maneuvers.

spotlightpa.org

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 4w ago

Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity's thoughts below on the Pa. budget expected to be signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro later today. Her campaign did not respond to a question about the deal relying on account maneuvering to avoid pulling from the rainy day fund.

"I commend the Republican leadership of the state legislature for holding the line and protecting the Commonwealth’s Rainy-Day Fund from Josh Shapiro’s attempts to raid it to fund his liberal presidential wish list. While Josh Shapiro did not get his irresponsible budget request this year, spending in the Commonwealth has exploded on his watch, and without real discipline we are on the verge of fiscal insolvency. Next year, I look forward to working with Senate President Pro Tempore Ward and Leaders Pittman and Topper to once again making Pennsylvania taxpayers the top priority in this process, not the Governor’s national political ambitions."

In the state budget before lawmakers as of Saturday night: -$900 million+ in new ed spending. -Pension boosts for public workers retired for 25+ years -No use of rainy day fund Not in: -Tax policy changes -Minimum wage hike -Skill games W/ @jaxonwhite.bsky.social

PA poised to adopt $50.8B budget

The plan also preserves the state’s nearly $8 billion rainy day fund — a key priority for Republicans, who control the state Senate.

spotlightpa.org

Just a reminder – rumors, tips and leaks are always welcome. Email: jwhite@spotlightpa.org (Preferred) Signal: JaxonWhite.02

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 4w ago

Dem Approps Chair Vincent Hughes indicated the $565 million adequacy funding for Pa. public schools is agreed to as part of a budget deal: “If the adequacy number was not agreed to, we wouldn't be having this conversation.” Not many other details to share yet.

The latest on where budget talks stand, from @jaxonwhite.bsky.social and I. Details on a final deal are sparse, but the potential inclusion of either an elimination of the data center sales tax exemption or the state's GRT on electricity are key debates. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/07...

PA’s 2026 budget could be finished this weekend

Two unresolved issues in PA’s 2026 budget talks are whether to cut a data center sales exemption and lower an electric utilities tax.

spotlightpa.org

Republican gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity is speaking at a “fireside chat on affordability” next week with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Philadelphia. General admin is $300/ticket and jump to $25k for VIPs.

As we continue Pennsylvania's budget delay, just a reminder that last year's fiscal code prevents the state Treasurer from offering loans to offset lost costs as an impasse drags on (as Stacy Garrity did last year). www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...

Recreational use isn’t Pennsylvania’s only cannabis-related policy debate. See were the governor candidates stand on: - PA’s medical program - Nonviolent crime expungement - Intoxicating hemp www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/07...

Where Shapiro and Garrity stand on Pennsylvania marijuana

Democrat Josh Shapiro supports legalizing recreational marijuana, while Republican Stacy Garrity does not.

spotlightpa.org

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) is in the Capitol today for meetings. “We’re getting close,” he told some folks as he headed toward the Senate chamber. Asked by me, he affirmed that the Senate could come in as early as Thursday and work through the weekend.

Gov. Josh Shapiro told MeidasTouch that President Trump shows the U.S. needs "real reform," like anti-corruption laws. He said he "could make an argument" for a 28th Amendment with "stricter guardrails" on electeds' ethics standards. Full quote below🧵 www.youtube.com/shorts/d1pJH...

Gov. Shapiro on Trump's $2B+ Grift Off the WH

YouTube video by MeidasTouch

youtube.com

Russ Walker @russwalker.bsky.social · 4w ago

President Trump last week pardoned Adam Kidan – a former partner of DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff who in 2005 pled guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges tied to buying multiple gambling boats. Kidan spent nearly $10k on GOP Stacy Garrity's campaign in March. apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump pardons former Abramoff partner, 9 people convicted of violating vehicle emissions controls

President Donald Trump on Friday pardoned 11 people, including a former business partner of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and nine people identified by the White House as having helped people bypa...

apnews.com

For any journalist who was having a hard time obtaining the presidential pardon for Adam Kidan: www.documentcloud.org/documents/28...

2026-07-03 Presidential Pardon Warrant for Adam Kidan

documentcloud.org

AG Dave Sunday has charged a former Bucknell University strength coach with felony aggravated hazing and several misdemeanors in connection to the death of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. during a football practice in 2024.

Pa.'s Planned Parenthood chapter announced today that its facilities are now once again accepting Medicaid, following expiration of a ban woven into last year's federal budget bill.

"Today is a relief for patients and for the principle that everyone deserves access to high-quality health care, regardless of their income or insurance status," said Melissa Reed, CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone. "For the last year, patients faced the possibility of losing access to their trusted provider because of a politically motivated effort to block Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid. We are relieved to welcome Medicaid patients back to our health centers and remain committed to providing compassionate, expert care to everyone who walks through our doors."

Jaxon White@jaxonwhite.bsky.social · last mo.

Freeman on the House floor said his bill is to close a "loophole" created in a 2021 amendment to the Sunshine Act that with "unforeseen consequences" that "undermines the effort to create greater transparency."

Pa. House today is slated to vote on Rep. Robert Freeman's (D., Northampton) bill to reinstate the 24-hour notice for local governments to amend agendas. It includes exceptions for admin decisions that would cause "hardship" if delayed. See below... www.palegis.us/legislation/...

Gov. Josh Shapiro on MS NOW: “I think we need radical reform that's actually going to ensure that the voices of the people are heard from, that the voices of the people are represented in the three branches of government. We don't have that right now.” youtu.be/YK3bG7BrknQ?...

Trump's ‘CHAOS and CRUELTY’ is infecting everything: Gov. Josh Shapiro

YouTube video by MS NOW

youtu.be