As May draws to a close, that means the finalizing of the annual budget is about to begin in Harrisburg. As we all wait for the budget process to start, legislators are still trying to jockey for position. Legislative Democrats are hoping to use the influx of federal stimulus money to push a 'PA New Deal' to improve services and invest in state infrastructure, while legislative Republicans are maintaining a strict sense of fiscal discipline. These diverging interests will come to a head as they attempt to negotiate a budget with Gov. Wolf before the end of June. All of this will come just weeks after the passage of constitutional amendments to limit the Governor's executive powers. The House majority has already begun preparations to overturn the Coronavirus orders, and we can only guess at what that means for Pennsylvania in the coming months.
Here to discuss all of this, and more, are: Sam Zern from The PLS Reporter, John Finnerty of CNHI, and Dennis Owens of WHTM.