E-News: Budget hearings underway in Harrisburg; Meet the Rep event is Monday

Rep. Mary Jo Daley February 21, 2025 | 2:09 PM

PA Representative Mary Jo Daley banner image

House budget hearings began in the Capitol this month.

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this email finds you warm and safe this February. Our thoughts are with our neighbors in Abington. As of this morning, the fire at SPS Technologies is active but under control.

The swift response from agencies like the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been exemplary, and our area first responders have been amazing in their response. You can stay informed on the fire by checking updates at www.abingtonpa.gov.

Budget hearings underway

In Harrisburg, February means that budget hearings have begun in the Capitol, following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s annual budget address on Feb. 4.

Continuing the advances in the last two budgets, the governor’s 2025-26 budget proposes a $75 million increase in basic education funding and an additional $526 million through the bipartisan adequacy formula, delivering more money to schools that need it most. It also increases special education funding by $40 million, to over $1.5 billion, to provide high-quality special education services to students with disabilities and special needs.

The proposal also calls for continued investments in infrastructure, mental health initiatives, and safer communities. Additionally, Gov. Shapiro urged the legislature to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania for the first time in 15 years. As it is, $7.25 is not enough for anyone to make a living, and it remains far below the minimum wages in our neighboring states.

All told, the next budget will need to recommit to investing in our kids, cutting costs for working families, and creating more economic opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. I think we are on that path.

Federal developments are troublesome

Meanwhile, we also are watching developments at the federal level to determine their effects on our budget. Federal funding – which comes from your taxes – is vital to ensuring that Pennsylvania has the resources to continue critical work here in our state. Already, we’ve likely lost access to $1.2 billion in congressionally appropriated funds. I join with Pennsylvania House leaders denouncing this as unconstitutional, unacceptable, and immoral.

Governor Shapiro has already filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s unconstitutional funding freeze, and I support this swift action.

To follow along with budget hearings in the Capitol, you can visit www.PaHouse.com/Live and www.houseappropriations.com/Topic/BudgetYears/822 for coverage.

February Meet the Rep event is Monday

If there’s something state-government related on your mind, my “Meet the Rep” events are a good time to sit down together and talk!

Come visit my next “Meet the Rep” event at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Belmont Hills Library in Bala Cynwyd.

An RSVP is required. Please email my office at RepMaryJoDaley@pahouse.net or call (610) 832-1679 to RSVP.

House passes my bike lane safety bill

I’m pleased to report that the House passed on Feb. 3 my bill allowing for parking-protected bike lanes.

These special lanes would allow street parking to be reconfigured with vehicles parked further from the curb to leave space for a protected bike lane.

Under current law, a vehicle must park within 12 inches of a curb. My bill will update the law and allow vehicles to park farther away from these curbs, creating a bike lane between the curb and the parked car.

House Bill 291 is also referred to as Susan’s and Emily’s Law. In October 2015, Susan Hicks was struck from behind and killed at the corner of Forbes and Bigelow in Pittsburgh. In November 2017, Emily Fredricks was riding her bike to work on Spruce Street in Philadelphia when she was struck and killed by a sanitation truck.

This change has been a long time coming, and I hope the Senate picks up this critical work soon. Lives are depending on it.

Direct File your taxes for free in PA

More than 2 million Pennsylvanians are now eligible to use Direct File, the IRS tool that allows you to file your federal and state tax returns online securely and for FREE. The IRS launched this tool last year, but 2025 is the first year PA residents can use it.

Check to see if you will be eligible to use Direct File to file this year’s personal income tax returns at https://directfile.irs.gov/.

Help with heating costs is available

We are in the thick of winter, so it’s important that you’re able to stay warm in your home! Applications are now available for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program can help you keep warm and safe during this time of year by helping with your heating bill. For more information on this program, to see if you qualify, and to apply, visit here or contact my office.

Celebrating Montco in America250

Montgomery County is looking for partners at all levels – residents, businesses, cultural organizations and others -- who want to help showcase the best of Montgomery County as we approach America’s Semiquincentennial celebration.

Applications for the Montgomery County America250 Commission are open now. You can read more here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March Meet the Rep event scheduled

You are invited to the William Jeanes Memorial Library on March 28 to chat with me about a variety of state government issues at my March Meet the Rep event. If you have questions, this is the time to ask!

To RSVP, call or email the district office at (610) 832-1679 or repmaryjodaley@pahouse.net.

My Veterans Event will feature guest speaker Ashley Ehasz

My office will host a Veteran's Tribute Lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 at the Spring Mill Ballroom located at 1210 E. Hector St., Conshohocken.

The lunch will feature special guest speaker Ashley Ehasz, who is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, and former Apache helicopter pilot. Following her service, which included stations in Iraq and Kuwait, Ashley worked as a policy writer and project coordinator to implement the CARES Act for county government and now serves as a government and public service sector consultant. She is a resident of Bensalem.

My Veterans Tribute Lunch is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifices of our area’s veterans, and I look forward to making the occasion special, ensuring each veteran feels recognized and valued for their selfless contributions protecting our freedoms.

Veterans can bring a guest. An RSVP is requested to RepMaryJoDaley@pahouse.com.

Save the date for my Senior Fair: June 13

Please save the date for my annual districtwide Senior Fair from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, June 13 at the Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Road, Wynnewood.

This free event will feature vendors focused on senior life all under one roof – including state, federal and local agencies, veterans’ organizations, insurance providers, community organizations and more! Can’t wait to see you there!

PHEAA webinars coming up

February is College Financial Aid Awareness Month! PHEAA has you covered with their free online webinars that tackle every question you may have when it comes to the financial aid process. Click here to register for these incredibly helpful webinars today!

Look for the following topics:

Advanced Planning for Higher Education
Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Improve Your Credit—Get Your Loan
Thursday, February 27, 2025

Financial Aid Timeline—Know What to Do When
Monday, March 10, 2025

Understanding the Offer Letter and Balances
Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Financial Aid Timeline—Know What to Do When
Monday, March 24, 2025

Understanding the Offer Letter and Balances
Wednesday, March 26, 2025