News & Brews July 15, 2026
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The ‘accounting tricks’ inside Pa.’s budget
The media is not done exposing problems in the recently passed state budget. Spotlight PA dings the image of the budget as a “fiscally responsible $50.8 billion product that doesn’t dip into the state’s rainy day fund.” This may be the spin, but it’s “a misleading picture. To reach that number, [lawmakers] had to employ some accounting tricks. The biggest involves delaying two months’ worth of payments — each costing about $1.3 billion — to the state’s Medicaid managed care organizations.” The budget also takes “more than $500 million from off-budget ‘special’ funds, among other transfers among accounts, to make the math work.” The House is blaming the Senate for the Medicaid “trick,” while Shapiro is blaming the Senate for not passing his proposals to regulate and tax skill games and legalize and tax marijuana. But guess what, the House, Senate, and Shapiro all agreed to the budget.
Trump to address Defense & Innovation Summit
President Trump will be in Pennsylvania today to address the Defense & Innovation Summit, hosted by U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and taking place at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle. WGAL reports, “The two-day summit is bringing together senior government officials, military leaders and executives from the defense, technology and finance sectors.” Yesterday’s panels focused on “defense acquisition, workforce development and partnerships among Pennsylvania companies, the military and government leaders,” while today’s topics “will focus on advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies before concluding with keynote remarks from Trump.”
Nearly 20 years later, Bonusgate lingers
Nearly two decades ago, the infamous ‘Bonusgate’ scandal rocked Pennsylvania politics. After media reported that lawmakers had handed out taxpayer-funded bonuses for campaign work (which, of course, is illegal), multiple high-ranking Pa. lawmakers ended up in prison. Embedded in Bonusgate was another scandal in which lawmakers used official computer systems to gather data for political ends. Well, years later, it turns out the legislature has not taken some of the recommendations of the Grand Jury’s scathing report. (And for more on the Bonusgate and Computergate intrigue and how it reshaped Pennsylvania’s political landscape, be sure to grab a copy of our president and CEO Matt Brouillette’s new book!)
Medicaid sure is bigger after all those ‘cuts’
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board gives the Left an inconvenient truth: Medicaid spending has grown by 10 percent so far this fiscal year. “Last year’s GOP tax bill made modest changes to Medicaid such as imposing work requirements for able-bodied recipients covered by ObamaCare and restricting a scheme that states use to launder more federal funds. Democrats accuse Republicans of gutting Medicaid, yet spending is still growing faster than almost any other program.”
High prices and House races
The Washington Post reports, “Pennsylvania is home to four of the most competitive House districts. Two are represented by freshman Republicans who unseated Democrats in 2024 with an economic message that also helped Trump defeat Kamala Harris by two percentage points in the key battleground state.” But now, these members “are fighting to keep their seats amid rising prices.”