Senate Republicans talk up education, economy as priorities in Pennsylvania

(The Middle Sq.) – Senate Republicans emphasised family-friendly insurance policies and financial development as they described their agenda for the legislative session on Wednesday.

How a lot settlement and compromise that can come from a Democratic-controlled Home and governor’s mansion, although, stays to be seen.

“Voters additionally returned this Senate Republican majority,” mentioned Majority Chief Joe Pittman, R-Indiana. “We, too, have an electoral mandate and we embrace that. The voters have despatched us divided authorities, however they didn’t ship us dysfunctional authorities.”

Republicans spoke of empowering households, creating extra jobs and defending freedom.

To that finish, Pittman spoke on offering reduction for working households from inflation and the rising price of dwelling, and embracing the commonwealth’s vitality assets for financial development.

“We acknowledge that low cost vitality is crucial to protecting inflation underneath management,” Pittman mentioned. “Now we have made it very clear that we as a Senate majority embrace our God-given pure assets.”

President Professional Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, additional emphasised the caucus’s household priorities.

“We’re centered on placing ahead laws and concepts that assist households,” Ward mentioned, pointing to the passage final 12 months of a kid care tax credit score and hinting that Republicans may favor increasing it. “The Senate has traditionally pushed for investments in psychological well being” and “funding for extra assist workers in nursing amenities and workforce recruitment and retention funds for frontline staff,” she mentioned.

Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Strasburg, spoke of the commonwealth’s inhabitants troubles.

“It’s no shock to anybody that Pennsylvania, during the last many many years, has lagged from the standpoint of economically versus a variety of our shut states, and that this state additionally has lagged demographically,” Martin mentioned. “Forty thousand folks within the final 12 months have left Pennsylvania. In an effort to flip that round, this caucus actually needs to give attention to doing issues that actually entice folks right here.”

Martin talked about reducing authorities purple tape – supported by enterprise and labor teams – and overregulation that drives up prices and does little to enhance public well being and security.

He additionally warned that Pennsylvania’s finances within the subsequent few years will probably be restricted.

“I’d warning everybody who claims the commonwealth is in (an) extraordinarily good fiscal place,” Martin mentioned. “A part of our job is to make sure that we don’t break the financial institution right here in Pennsylvania.”

Ward demurred on providing her ideas as to the place battle may come up with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, however pointed to training as a possible brilliant spot for compromise.

“I believe we are able to discover widespread floor on points like possibly training, on some issues which can be – baby care tax credit, as we talked about – issues which can be necessary to all Pennsylvanians,” Ward mentioned. “That is our probability to manipulate within the center, doing what’s proper for all of Pennsylvania. I believe that’s what we are able to get executed, are issues that aren’t divisive.”