Republicans who control Pennsylvania's Senate passed spending legislation hours ahead of Saturday's start of a new fiscal year, but they lacked agreement with the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives to keep state government's full spending authority intact.
Without new spending authority in place, the state will be legally barred from making some payments, although a stalemate must typically last weeks before an effect on services is felt.
The main budget bill in the Senate GOP's $45 billion spending plan passed 29-21, a couple hours after it emerged Friday. Every Republican supported it and all but one Democrat voted against it. Shapiro's administration declined Friday to say whether he supports the Senate GOP plan, saying only that House and Senate leaders should continue to work toward compromise.
It also carries significantly less for public schools than what Democrats wanted, but gives substantial increases for private schools. Shapiro's plan sought another $1 billion for public schools, while House Democrats had sought about $1.7 billion. The Senate Republican plan carries about $800 million.
For Shapiro, getting his first budget across the finish line is perhaps the biggest test yet of his political skills under the Capitol dome.
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