Harrisburg, PA − July 11, 2024 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate and House passed a $47.59B dollar budget that makes significant investments in basic education, higher education, public safety, health and human services, and economic development.
Senator Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, said the following about Pennsylvania’s new budget:
“I am happy to report that today, we passed a budget bill, a school code, a tax code, and a fiscal code. Our discussions these past few weeks were very productive, and the Senate Democratic Caucus was proud to fight for a number of our priorities,” said Senator Costa. “This budget makes significant investments in the issues Pennsylvanians find important and impactful. We have invested over $1 billion new dollars into pre-k to 12 education funding, and a $900 million increase to address our education adequacy needs and basic education funding. In the space of economic development, there is over $45 million for new programs that support new jobs and businesses, including funding for the PA SITES program. We also got a $40 million increase for affordable housing through the PHARE Housing Program over 4 years. I am personally very proud that we doubled our investment in the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to a total of $10 million to protect the spaces in our communities that serve vulnerable groups. There is so much more to celebrate, and also much more work to do to deliver for every Pennsylvanian. I am so grateful for my colleagues and staff for getting this budget over the finish line.”
“This budget makes a historic downpayment on our responsibility to fix Pennsylvania’s education funding system with an increase of over $1B for Pre-K to 12 education funding,” said Senator Hughes. “I along with a number of advocates, educators, and students have been in the fight to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional education system for 10 years, and tonight we’re taking an important step forward to right that egregious wrong. Our work isn’t finished but this budget marks a significant milestone for Pennsylvania’s public education system.
I’m also proud to see the Commonwealth move forward with long overdue investments and reform for our higher education system. Democrats started leading on this issue in 2017 with our PA Promise plan and then requirements on higher ed transparency and accountability. We’ve finally got something across the finish line that will improve access and affordability for students and families, and ultimately improve our workforce. It’s gratifying to see the groundwork we started to lay 7 years ago with PA Promise result in a serious change for PA higher education.
Overall, we’re delivering big increases for education, affordable housing, public safety, and a number of new investments in economic development initiatives. The investments we’re making in this budget will have a significant impact on opportunities and growth for Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. Of course, with a divided government, there’s more that Democrats will be fighting for as we make future appropriations, but we’ve made a solid stride forward with what we’ve passed today.”
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Harrisburg − June 24, 2024 − Today, Senator Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader, and Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, issued the following statements to recognize the second anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Senate Democrats’ commitment to protect a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body and reproductive health in Pennsylvania.
Senator Costa explained, “Let me be as clear as I can: The PA Senate Democrats believe that every single person deserves the freedom to decide whether, when, and how to have a family. These deeply intimate decisions belong with the families and their care providers, not in committee meetings or legislators’ offices. I am proud to be lending my voice to this issue on this sad and solemn anniversary, and I look forward to continuing the fight for safe, accessible reproductive healthcare for every Pennsylvanian.”
Senator Hughes echoed his commitment to women’s freedom, “On this anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we’re reminded that we cannot lose focus on defending and preserving the freedoms that have been established for generations in America. Our democracy is dependent on our participation- we must continue to advocate, vote, and work toward progress. While today is a solemn reminder of the terrible step back our country took two years ago, it’s important for everyone in Pennsylvania to know that PA Senate Democrats remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to make decisions about her body and reproductive health. We will continue to fight for women and the basic freedoms that were unjustly threatened by the Supreme Court, on this day two years ago.”
More information about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats’ commitment to safe, affordable healthcare for every Pennsylvanian can be found online.
Harrisburg, PA – July 7, 2023 − Sunday, July 9th, marks seventeen years since Pennsylvania lawmakers last raised the minimum wage.
On July 9th, 2006, Governor Ed Rendell was joined by Senator Christine Tartaglione, Senator Vincent Hughes, and Senator Jay Costa, to sign Senate Bill 1090, Senator Tartaglione’s legislation that raised PA’s minimum wage to $7.15.
“When Senate Bill 1090 was signed into law in 2006, it was a promise to continue to fight for our Commonwealth’s lowest earners and ensure that the needs of Pennsylvanian’s lowest earners are never forgotten or cast aside,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I reintroduced Senate Bill 12 because I, like so many of my colleagues refuse to sit idly by as the Pennsylvanians that earn our poverty level minimum wage continue to struggle to make ends meet. Pennsylvania needs its government to act swiftly and decisively on behalf of our Commonwealth’s workers that need it most.”
Senate Democrats continue to support a higher minimum wage. In June, House Democrats passed a bill that would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. Senator Christine Tartaglione (D- Philadelphia) introduced Senate Bill 12, a similar bill.
“Pennsylvania is failing our workers,” said Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery). “For seventeen years now, Republican state lawmakers have done nothing to guarantee hard working people get paid fairly and adequately for contributions to our economy. I was proud to join Governor Rendell in 2006 to support pay that benefited workers and families. I hope to join Governor Shapiro one day to end seventeen years of inaction for minimum wage workers in Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania’s current minimum wage sits at the federal requirement of $7.25. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is far from a livable wage in the state. The cost of housing and other living expenses has continued to rise while Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has remained stagnant for over a decade.
A minimum wage increase to $15 an hour would impact one million workers who are currently making less than $15 an hour in Pennsylvania.
“Everyone who works for a living deserves to earn a living wage, and the current minimum wage in PA is not one. It is long past time to do right by our working families and make sure we can raise our children on one good job,” said Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). “I have been proud to champion a living wage for every Pennsylvanian, and I look forward to working alongside fellow legislators, workers, and activists to deliver on this crucial value.”
Senate Democrats stand ready to vote on the House bill, but Senate Republicans, who are in the majority, must bring it to the floor for a vote. Meanwhile, every state surrounding Pennsylvania has raised the minimum wage. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio, all pay a higher minimum wage. Pennsylvania is in last place when it comes to delivering for workers.
“Raising the minimum wage is critical to respecting the dignity of hardworking people so that they can afford housing and food, and so that they don’t have to choose between food, heat, clothing, and other basic needs,” said Senator Art Haywood (D-Phila./Montgomery), who has also been a fierce advocate for raising PA’s minimum wage.
He continued, “This is about helping parents and allowing them to be parents, no longer having to work two or three jobs and having greater freedom to provide their children with a better education, enrich their young ones with opportunities like recreational activities, be more active in their communities, and spend time with their families.”
Harrisburg, PA − November 15, 2022 − The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected its leadership team for the 2023-24 legislative session.
The Senate Democratic Caucus proudly welcomes a new member, Senator Nick Miller of Allentown.
The new and returning members elected the following Caucus Leadership Team:
- Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
- Caucus Whip – Tina Tartaglione
- Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
- Appropriations Vice Chair – Tim Kearney
- Caucus Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
- Caucus Secretary – Maria Collett
- Administrator – Judy Schwank
“I am honored and humbled to announce that I will be serving as the Leader of the PA Senate Democratic Caucus for the next two years. I’d like to thank my fellow Democratic senators for entrusting me with this responsibility, and I hope to do our caucus proud,” said Senator Jay Costa. “I am excited about the work before us, and I am honored to be leading the Democratic caucus as we continue to deliver for PA’s families. Let’s get it done.”
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