Pennsylvania Lawmakers Grill Agencies on Budget Proposal

Appropriations hearings dig into Governor Shapiro's $53.2 billion spending plan

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Pennsylvania lawmakers are holding a series of appropriations hearings to scrutinize Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed $53.2 billion budget for 2026-27. During the hearings, representatives are questioning cabinet secretaries and department heads about their funding requests, potential waste or fraud, and ways to improve efficiency.

Why it matters

The appropriations process is a crucial part of the state's budget negotiations, allowing lawmakers to directly question officials, uncover potential issues, and shape the final budget that will impact Pennsylvanians. With concerns over rising Medicaid costs and allegations of fraud, these hearings could lead to significant changes in the governor's initial proposal.

The details

PA Representative Jesse Topper said the hearings provide an opportunity to 'put [cabinet secretaries] on the record' and 'get people to tell the truth as to where the money's going.' Discussions have focused on issues like potential waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid spending, as well as the need for better data-sharing and accountability measures between state agencies.

  • The appropriations hearings began after Governor Shapiro unveiled his 2026-27 budget proposal.
  • The PA House of Representatives is holding the hearings over a three-week period.

The players

Josh Shapiro

The governor of Pennsylvania who proposed the $53.2 billion budget for 2026-27.

Jesse Topper

A PA Representative who is participating in the appropriations hearings and discussing the need for greater accountability and efficiency in state spending.

Michele Jansen

A reporter from News Talk 103.7FM who is covering the appropriations hearings and questioning the representatives about issues like Medicaid fraud and the use of state funds for the governor's security.

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What they’re saying

“There is value to this in terms of, we have the opportunity as members to directly question cabinet secretaries, kind of put them on the record, which I think is always important. We use these hearings during our budget negotiations. And sometimes you can also get people to, quite frankly, tell the truth as to where the money's going and I think that's very important.”

— Jesse Topper, PA Representative (tristatealert.com)

“The other side is going to point to people walking away from it as some kind of a failure, but in reality, it's what we knew was going to happen. I mean, the numbers have been so bloated since Obamacare. Look, none of this was unforeseen. The reason why many of us fought against Obamacare so vociferously was that we saw that this was going to be what happened to the market.”

— Jesse Topper, PA Representative (tristatealert.com)

What’s next

The appropriations hearings are expected to continue for the next two weeks, with lawmakers continuing to scrutinize the governor's budget proposal and push for greater accountability and efficiency in state spending.

The takeaway

The appropriations hearings in Pennsylvania highlight the importance of the budget process and the role of lawmakers in ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. While the governor has proposed a significant spending plan, the hearings provide an opportunity for representatives to uncover potential issues and shape the final budget to better meet the needs of Pennsylvanians.