Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
11/12/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/12/2025 15:08
Barton: Energy Policy Wins Make Bloated Budget Deal Worth It
Nov. 12, 2025
HARRISBURG - Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) issued this statement following House passage of a General Appropriations bill for the 2025-26 fiscal year:
"Budget negotiations are twofold. We have to reach an agreement on the dollar figure the state intends to spend during the fiscal year, and there's the accompanying policy that impacts our state revenue. While I'm not thrilled about the total spending number, the policies we've negotiated are incredibly important for the future of our Commonwealth.
"As part of this budget deal, the General Assembly will be repealing the regulations that put us into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is responsible for Pennsylvania losing out on 22,000 direct energy related jobs and nearly $8 billion in economic development. It was also projected to increase utility bills on Pennsylvanians by an average of 30% by 2030. With RGGI out of the way, we can maximize our energy potential, ensure the reliability of our power grid and keep energy costs affordable for our families.
"This budget deal will also provide benefit integrity by ensuring those who receive benefits are the ones who truly need them. In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million able-bodied adults without dependents are enrolled in Medicaid while over 14,000 disabled individuals remain on a waiting list for services. This budget deal requires the Department of Human Services to conduct several additional checks against recipients of Medical Assistance and SNAP to ensure eligibility and guard against fraud.
"These policy wins come alongside more investments in school choice and much-needed permitting reforms. While I still believe $50.1 billion is too much, it's $1.4 billion below what the governor was trying to spend. Budget negotiations require compromise. Because this deal does not involve dipping into our Rainy Day Fund, avoids the legalization of recreational marijuana, and comes with massive policy improvements, I'm proud to support this budget agreement."
Rep. Jamie Barton
124th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
[email protected]
RepBarton.com / Facebook.com/RepBarton
"Budget negotiations are twofold. We have to reach an agreement on the dollar figure the state intends to spend during the fiscal year, and there's the accompanying policy that impacts our state revenue. While I'm not thrilled about the total spending number, the policies we've negotiated are incredibly important for the future of our Commonwealth.
"As part of this budget deal, the General Assembly will be repealing the regulations that put us into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is responsible for Pennsylvania losing out on 22,000 direct energy related jobs and nearly $8 billion in economic development. It was also projected to increase utility bills on Pennsylvanians by an average of 30% by 2030. With RGGI out of the way, we can maximize our energy potential, ensure the reliability of our power grid and keep energy costs affordable for our families.
"This budget deal will also provide benefit integrity by ensuring those who receive benefits are the ones who truly need them. In Pennsylvania, more than 1 million able-bodied adults without dependents are enrolled in Medicaid while over 14,000 disabled individuals remain on a waiting list for services. This budget deal requires the Department of Human Services to conduct several additional checks against recipients of Medical Assistance and SNAP to ensure eligibility and guard against fraud.
"These policy wins come alongside more investments in school choice and much-needed permitting reforms. While I still believe $50.1 billion is too much, it's $1.4 billion below what the governor was trying to spend. Budget negotiations require compromise. Because this deal does not involve dipping into our Rainy Day Fund, avoids the legalization of recreational marijuana, and comes with massive policy improvements, I'm proud to support this budget agreement."
Rep. Jamie Barton
124th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
[email protected]
RepBarton.com / Facebook.com/RepBarton
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on November 12, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 12, 2025 at 21:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]