HARRISBURG — No lawmakers were to be seen in the state Capitol hallways on Friday, the 67th day with no state budget in place, and the scenario evoked a troubling sense of déjà vu for Christi Buker.
The executive director of the Pennsylvania Library Association, Ms. Buker remembers the 2023-2024 fiscal year, when a partisan standoff held up money for libraries until December. In the latest state budget impasse, a $14 million payment that was supposed to go out in August already has been held up.
“We are all frustrated, very frustrated that the budget isn’t done yet,” she said. “It is really a shame.”
There were no press conferences in the Capitol on Friday by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, Democratic House Leader Matt Bradford of Montgomery County or Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman