In Pennsylvania’s General Assembly, the Democrat-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate are often at odds. Throw Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who sometimes breaks with his own party, into the mix, and things get even messier. It was apparent during the 2023 budget season, and it’s even apparent now, during a time that’s typically not as busy. While there hasn’t been as much outright fighting, recent bills introduced show a story of two chambers at odds.
In the state Senate, a resolution asking Shapiro to help Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, a Republican, guard the U.S. border with Mexico was recently passed. The state senators want Pennsylvania’s National Guard troops to travel down to the southern state. Only the governor or the president can call on a state’s national guard.
State senators talked about the resolution for over an hour in their session, which is publicly streamed.
“I believe securing our border is not a partisan issue,” state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), who introduced the resolution, said, “Instead of simply wringing our hands and saying this is the federal government’s problem, let’s act.”
The resolution passed on party lines in the chamber, where Republicans have a five-seat majority. It’s likely destined to be quickly extinguished in the state, if it’s even brought up for a vote.
In the state House, Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia), recently held a press conference introducing legislation aimed at voting rights. The press conference, which was live streamed, featured McClinton and several voting advocacy organizations.
McClinton’s legislation is aimed at creating a more streamlined voting process and therefore increasing participation. Her bills would allow same-day voting and early voting.
“Having early in-person voting, along with same-day voter registration on Election Day, will empower our neighbors in every part of the Commonwealth to participate in each and every election,” McClinton said.
The state Senate has looked at increasing voter identification requirements and raised concerns over election security before. McClinton’s legislation could set the scene for another battle between the two chambers on how the state’s elections are carried out.
Whatever the two chambers decide, it will have an impact on each of Pennsylvania’s 67 county boards of elections. In Pennsylvania, the counties carry out the majority of the legwork on election day, and officials have expressed frustration about direction they’ve received from the state.
The two different issues highlight different priorities in each chamber. Shapiro’s recent budget address proposed key controversial issues, like legalized marijuana, that may set the stage for a long, drawn-out budget season as the two chambers learn to work together.
