Reconciliation (Noun)

• The restoration of friendly relations.
• The action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
• The action of making financial accounts consistent; harmonization.

Today our Commonwealth is in a precarious position as our residents are facing a federal and state budget impasse.  As we are closing in on the halfway mark of our fiscal year, it is imperative we start finding common ground on the only constitutionally required annual legislation – a general appropriations bill (the budget). 

Budgets Analyzed:
House Democrat Budget (current version)                          Senate Republican Budget
      $50.2 Billion                                                                              $46.9 Billion
      Passed House on 10/8/2025                                                    Passed Senate on 8/12/2025
      Vote: 105-98                                                                              Vote: 27-22

While on the surface these two budgets appear light years apart, but would it surprise you that over 50% of these budgets are in 100% agreement – down to the penny?  What if we were to focus on these agreements first?

Thus, the Reconciliation Budget, a simple commonsense approach to break the budgetary gridlock in Pennsylvania.  Here are the simplistic criteria and process used to develop this Reconciliation Budget:

Criteria:

• If both budgets agree on an appropriation and spending level – fully funded.
• If both budgets agree on an appropriation but not the spending level – appropriation remains, but the spending level is cut in half based on the lower number of the two budgets.  A final number needs further negotiation.
• If either budget has an appropriation the other doesn’t – the appropriation is eliminated.  Need further negotiation.

Process:

• Print off both budgets and lay them side-by-side.
• Go line-by-line using the criteria.

End result:

• A partial budget that provides full funding and partial funding to 934 federal and state appropriations.
• 510 (53.4%) appropriations are FULLY FUNDED.
• 424 (45.3%) appropriations are PARTIALLY FUNDED.

A Reconciliation Budget is simple and commonsense solution to significantly advance the budget process built on what unites us rather than what divides us.

I hope you will join me in sponsoring this important piece of legislation.