Walsh Votes Against Unsustainable Budget Plan

July 12, 2026

HARRISBURG – While the 2026-27 state budget passed by the House of Representatives today reined in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s appetite for overspending, it still spends too much and sets the Commonwealth up to have its reserve funds completely depleted in two years, according to Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-Luzerne).

Walsh voted “no” on the $50.8 billion spending plan because it does not stay within the confines of what the state generates each year in terms of revenue. The plan did shave $2.5 billion off the governor’s wish list.

“I cannot support the continued spending beyond our means that will only result in increased taxes in the years ahead,” Walsh said. “This is just bad governance.”

Walsh said he was particularly frustrated about proposals left on the table regarding the way in which local municipalities address plans for proposed data centers.

He had hoped budget negotiations would have forced movement on Senate Bill 1345 to give municipal leaders an option to place an 18-month moratorium on new data center development; House Bill 2496 to create a zoning consideration period for data centers; and House Bill 2198, which would repeal the data center tax exemption and generate millions of dollars in revenue for Pennsylvania.

“This would have helped fill some of the ‘gap’ between expenditures and revenue,” he said.

In addition to neglecting important data center legislation, Walsh expressed this budget underfunds rural schools like those in his district. He says this misstep forces smaller school districts to make decisions that, in the end, only hurt students.

“Overall, the budget is a mixed plan with some worthwhile expenditures like increased funding for education and retired law enforcement officers. However, it also underfunds rural schools and defers over $1 billion in payments to Managed Care Organizations. These are decisions that only hurt our communities,” Walsh said.

Walsh noted the state can only kick the proverbial can so far down the line.

“Eventually, these budget gimmicks will result in a massive tax increase, and I just know we could do better. Families sit around their table and make difficult budget decisions every day, and the state needs to do the same. I will not vote in favor of a proposal that will lead to massive tax increases in future years,” he said.

The budget passed both the House and Senate this weekend and is headed to Shapiro’s desk for his signature.



Representative Jamie Walsh
117th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com