News & Brews February 12, 2026
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IFO: Budget deficit to skyrocket to $6.7 billion in 2026-27
Well, this isn’t great news. A budget brief released Tuesday by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office projects that the state’s budget deficit will balloon from $3.93 billion this fiscal year to $6.71 billion in 2026-27. PoliticsPA explains that per the report, “The primary factors driving the deficit expansion are three-fold: 1) the use of temporary monies in FY25-26 such as $1.1B from various special funds and transfers; 2) strong growth in healthcare programs for seniors, and; 3) modest net revenue growth.” Unfortunately, Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal is fuel to the fire of this deficit.
Your taxpayer-funded podcast
Gov. Josh Shapiro is playing podcast host on your dime, again. Yesterday, he posted an interview with basketball executive Billy King. His last interview, with NFL defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, prompted Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso to ask Shapiro’s office “about the cost and how this is official state business.” The response? Gobbledygook sprinkled with the typical GSD rhetoric.
Pashinski will not seek re-election
Democrat state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (Luzerne County), who has spent nearly two decades in office, will not seek re-election in November. As is often the case, the outgoing lawmaker wants to handpick his successor. PoliticsPA reports, “Wilkes-Barre City Council chairwoman Jessica McClay has announced her candidacy to replace Pashinski and has received the legislator’s endorsement for his seat.” On the Republican side, Bear Creek Mayor Mike Harostock has announced his candidacy. Pashinski won re-election in 2024 55%-45%.
Shapiro signs cursive mandate for Pa. schools
Gov. Shapiro has signed bipartisan legislation, led by Republican state Rep. Dane Watro (Luzerne and Schuylkill counties), “that will require a cursive handwriting curriculum in all Pennsylvania public schools,” PennLive reports. Watro noted that studies show cursive learning “activates areas of the brain involved in executive function, fine motor skills, and working memory.” Further, the bill notes “that learning to read and write cursive will help young generations as they read historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.” (No joke: I was a history major well-versed in cursive and still struggled with some historical docs. Those blasted “S’s” that look like “F’s”!)
Hearing today on Back-to-School affordability
And speaking of school, the Pa. House Republican Policy Committee will hold a public hearing this morning at 9:30 a.m. “to examine the affordability of everyday essentials families rely on and potential solutions to provide targeted, back-to-school relief.” Among those scheduled to testify are Mikal Sabatine, director of Families First of Pen Argyl; Sarah Whitworth, school counselor at Moore Elementary School; and Marisa Elias, a Pennsylvania parent. You can watch the hearing live stream here.