Funding for several state-related universities continues to be a point of contention for Pennsylvania House Republicans frustrated with a Democrat-imposed budget recess.
While budget negotiations have been placed on ice until the Democrat-controlled House reconvenes at the end of September, Republicans continue to call for reforms related to funding for several state-funded universities.
Four schools – the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Lincoln University, and Temple University – are asking for a roughly 7% increase in tax money for their budgets. The Democrats twice proposed funding the bill that met those demands, but the Republicans voted it down both times, demanding reforms prior to granting the budget increase.
Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), minority chair of the Appropriations Committee, said the reforms focus on more discussion about direct-to-student funding, compliance with right-to-know laws, and guaranteed tuition freezes for the publicly funded schools.
Republican leadership is calling for these reforms as a part of their Keystone Commitment to a child-first, family-focused education.
However, during a budget hearing on March 21, representatives from all four universities said they would not freeze tuition costs, even if they receive the requested 7% increase in taxpayer money.
In a statement released July 20, Grove blamed Democrats for failing to engage Republicans.
“We would love to work through these issues, but Democrats have left Harrisburg for the summer,” Grove said. “Given the resignation of Rep. Innamorato yesterday and scheduled special election for that seat on Sept. 19, I don’t expect Democrats to engage with us in a meaningful way before Sept. 26 when we return to session, or even at all. These facts make it clear; this failure sits at the feet of House Democrats and Gov. Shapiro.”
House Bill 612, which covers the funding for the state-related universities, requires a two-thirds majority to pass. The bill was 18 votes short on the first attempt at passage, but only six short the second time, with 12 Republicans changing their vote. Grove told The Lancaster Patriot that he did not know why they changed their vote.
Following the resignation of a Democrat representative, the House is currently split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. A special election to fill the vacant seat is scheduled for September 19, less than a week before the House is scheduled to reconvene.
Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus Concerns
Other Republicans remain resolute to not pass any bill that gives taxpayer dollars to either Pitt or Penn State, regardless of agreements on tuition freezes, due to moral issues.
Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-York), who chairs the 16-member Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus, said the Caucus will “not even consider a yes vote if policies that endanger the health and welfare of children remain unchanged.”
A June 4 press release from the Freedom Caucus referred to a Penn State Health website which allegedly said, “The clinic’s pediatric endocrinologist provides puberty-blocking medications, cares for people with differences of sexual development and cares for patients who are younger than 10 years old.”
“To sit by and allow public funds to be used in experimental activities causing irreversible harm to children, some under the age of 10, makes lawmakers complicit in this abuse couched as health care,” said Keefer in the press release.
The Penn State Health website does not currently contain the specific text mentioned in the press release, but reads: “In accordance with current guidelines, we do not offer medical care to prepubertal individuals, and we do not see patients younger than 10.” It also states that the clinic’s doctors provide “gender-affirming health care” and specialize in “adolescent medicine with expertise in diagnosing and managing adolescent gender dysphoria and related conditions between 10 and 24 years of age.”
Concerns over the University of Pittsburgh focus on the use of aborted fetuses in research funded by the National Institute of Health.
