State Rep. Brenda Pugh is frustrated with the state’s ongoing budget stalemate.

While some lawmakers have proposed legislation that would withhold lawmakers’ pay during future deadlocked budgets, Pugh, R-Luzerne, wants to amend the state constitution to take away the legislature’s out-of-session weekdays when there is a budget stalemate.

“Delayed budget agreements have become an annual feature in Pennsylvania – with 13 of the past 20 budgets running late,” Pugh wrote in her co-sponsorship memorandum.

“In response, I am introducing a constitutional amendment that would require the General Assembly to be in session each weekday, other than state holidays, whenever a general appropriation bill has not been enacted by July 31. This would allow for continuous, uninterrupted collaboration between House and Senate members, and the Governor. With unimpeded communication and debate, the General Assembly would have the opportunity to work towards an agreement with minimal delay.”

Pugh’s constitutional amendment proposal comes after another day of finger-pointing in the 2025 budget stalemate. House Democrats passed a new budget plan that was quickly rejected by Senate Republicans, followed by both sides pointing fingers at the other for the lack of a budget deal.

“For months now, the people of Parkland and Allentown have been looking to Harrisburg to get the budget resolved,” said Rep. Michael Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. “Now we see the effects of it not getting done: rape crisis centers, centers for independent living, food pantries, community organizations — all forced to furlough staff, take out lines of credit and, in some cases, close their doors. House Majority leadership has gone out on a limb once again and we are showing our willingness to compromise but deliver on what is important. As a result, we will continue the historic work to address funding for local community schools so they can invest in our kids. We will invest in mental health and behavioral health care so people struggling can realize the freedom of independent living. Rather than working with the House Democratic Majority, during the summer, Senate Republicans passed a copy-and-paste budget that flat funded every line item. That’s beyond unacceptable.”

Senate Republicans responded by saying both House budgets spend too much money even though they are decreases from the $51.5 billion budget proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro. The first House budget came to $50.6 billion with the one passed Wednesday totaling $50.25 billion. Pittman said the House should pass a replica of the 2024-25 budget as the Senate did on Aug. 12.

“After months without a state budget, the latest act by the House has taken steps backwards, not forwards,” said state Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana and Senate majority leader. “With the state budget being due 100 days ago, it is long past time for Democrats to stop their games and to complete a responsible budget that doesn’t seek to spend billions more than we can afford by using one-time dollars. … The substantial budgetary increase over the last decade makes it clear that we must control the growth of our expenditures to prevent a fiscal calamity in the coming years. Until Democrats are willing to come to the table with a unified voice and a respect for the differences we have, we will remain at an impasse.”

Amending the state constitution is not a quick process. After passing both chambers of the General Assembly two sessions in a row, voters can approve or reject the amendment in the following election. If a majority of voters approve an amendment — and it survives any legal challenges — it goes into effect and becomes part of the constitution. For Pugh, it’s worth a multi-year process to amend the constitution if it means bringing an end to budget squabbles that last as long as this year’s has.

“As lawmakers, we are responsible for addressing the needs of our constituents and supporting the health of the Commonwealth,” Pugh wrote in her co-sponsorship memorandum. “A timely and well-formulated general appropriation bill is an essential part of meeting these obligations. By allowing Pennsylvanians to vote to amend our constitution to incentivize timely budget agreements, we can better represent the constituents we were elected to serve and reassure the public that we are committed to their success.”