The photo that ran with a Center Square story detailing state lawmakers’ deal on the state’s 2024-25 budget speaks more loudly than any sound bite state lawmakers could give.

Democrats smiled broadly for the camera. Republicans were absent.

One could argue Republicans were basically absent for most of the budget discussions given what’s in and out of the state budget. The $47.6 billion budget includes new education and human services spending, tax and regulatory reforms for businesses, and an infusion into mass transit systems that continue to hemorrhage money post pandemic.

We aren’t saying the state’s spending priorities are out of line. School funding was going to have to increase to meet a court’s mandate. Hunan services costs are going up and infrastructure needs to be built. But if Democrats want to spend more money, true fiscal responsibility says the state should increase taxes to pay for the increased spending.

Republicans, the alleged party of fiscal responsibility, find themselves part of a budget deal that helps drain the state’s surplus from $8.1 billion to $3.5 billion over the course of two years. Remember, the state Independent Fiscal Office said in May that 2024-25 revenues should be about $46.2 billion while the budget is $47.6 billion.

That’s one reason nearly every Republican member of the state House of Representatives voted against the budget. Senate Republicans, on the other hand, sided with House Democrats and Gov. Josh Shapiro.

This budget compromise puts an end to the commonwealth’s 11-day budget standoff. Democrats are all smiles.

But will taxpayers be smiling when taxes have to go up to pay for this new spending in future years? Because Republicans should be under no illusion – these programs aren’t going to get smaller next year or the year after that.

The time will come to pay the piper unless state revenues equal state spending without spending from the state’s surplus.