Pa. Budget Impasse Drags On

July 28, 2023 4:52 am

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania say they are angry that millions of dollars to expand adult mental health services got cut out of state spending legislation, and are pushing to get it included now that the legislation is held up in a month-old partisan stalemate. The fight over the money comes as schools and counties report spikes in demand for mental health services on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, and say they don’t have the resources to support those in need. Funds for adults were left on the cutting room floor in a budget bill that Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro says he will sign. The Senate Republican-authored budget bill instead pushed those dollars to student mental health. Democrats say that both should be funded.