November 17, 2025 Express Update

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved a $50.1 billion budget last week. The deal came 135 days late, ending one of the longest delays in recent Pennsylvania budget history. Prior to the passage, Pennsylvania was the only state in the country without a 2026 budget enacted. The package increases state spending by about 5% ($2.4 billion), […]

On November 12, 43 days into a government shutdown, the House passed a bill negotiated by the bipartisan Senate, to end the government shutdown by extending current funding until January 30th, halting the Administration’s “reduction-in-force” layoffs, and ensuring back pay for furloughed employees. The House voted 222-209 to advance to President Trump’s desk a continuing […]

On November 14, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) reconfirmed that the state will open the 2025 – 2026 Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season on December 3rd, now that the federal government shutdown has ended. DHS previously announced that the program start date was delayed at least 30 days due to lack […]

Last week it was reported that a new proposed swipe fee settlement was reached between Visa and Mastercard. The settlement, filed on November 10 in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, comes nearly 20 years after the original antitrust lawsuit was launched and follows the rejection of a prior $30 billion agreement in 2024. While […]