News & Brews July 10, 2026
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Enjoy the weekend, lawmakers probably won’t
So we are 10 days past the traditional June 30th state budget deadline (which apparently no one cares about anyway). And it looks like lawmakers won’t be having much fun this weekend. (Don’t get me wrong – we’re not upset about this.) Here’s the latest schedule, per Spotlight PA reporter Stephen Caruso: “Friday: Senate returns for committee meetings in the PM … Saturday: Senate holds voting session; House Approps meets at 7 pm; Sunday: Senate remains in session; House meets at noon.” Will a budget be finalized? We’ll see. TGIF!
Fetterman, McCormick join fundraising forces
U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, whose close working relationship and friendship has been a breath of fresh air in the polarized political world, have teamed up to form a joint fundraising committee, Common Ground PA. The Center Square explains that “joint fundraising committees can be created by two or more candidates, PACs or party committees to share the costs of fundraising, and split the proceeds.” The story notes, “Common Ground PA filed with the Federal Election Commission … on Monday. They list four joint fundraising participants: Every Vote PAC, Pennsylvania Honor, Fetterman for PA, and Friends of Dave McCormick.”
Pa. kids are still falling behind
As lawmakers continue figuring out the state budget, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Rachel Langan reminds us, “Over the last decade, state taxpayer support for public education has surged by 68%. The 2024–25 budget delivered the second-largest single-year increase in state history—more than $1.3 billion, or an 8% bump, in one stroke. Currently, the total bill for K–12 education exceeds $17.7 billion in state funds alone.” And on average, Pennsylvania spends $23,807 per student, per year, which is about $4,000 above the national average. But per the Nation’s Report Card, “Pennsylvania made no measurable improvement since 2003 to close achievement gaps of more than 25 points for Black and Hispanic students, economically disadvantaged students, or English-language learners.”
PASSHE votes to raise tuition
ABC27 reports that tuition at Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education universities is set to increase after a vote by the PASSHE board this week “to increase tuition by $172 a semester for in-state undergraduate students for the 2026-27 school year.” At the same time, the board “also announced a systemwide ‘PASSHE Pledge,’ a last-dollar scholarship initiative to cover remaining tuition costs for in-state undergraduate students who receive both a federal Pell Grant and a PA State Grant.”
Behind the multi-million-dollar skill games battle
The Inquirer dissects the “behind-the-scenes battle to shape public policy in Harrisburg between Georgia-based Pace-O-Matic — a leading developer of software for the video game machines — and Bensalem’s Parx Casino, which reported the most gross slot machine revenue, $375 million, of any Pennsylvania casino operator last year.” The conflict over regulating skill games has led to millions spent in elections. And now, the “debate has reached a turning point, as the high court found that unregulated skill games are unlawful. But the court paused its order, giving lawmakers a window until October to legalize, tax, and regulate the games — or leave owners and operators vulnerable to prosecution.”