The governor’s budget address is a landmark of Pennsylvania government every year. At least it should be.
More precisely, it is the first pitch in the baseball season of state politics. Ceremonial, it lays out goals that are not likely to have much relationship to the final budget. It is generally high in aspiration and spells out plans the governor and his party would like to achieve. The opposition might not object to the plans so much as the price tag.
But in reality, like in a baseball game, neither side cares about the skill of the other team or the ballet-like artistry of a swung bat or a caught ball. All anyone wants is to win.
Gov. Josh Shapiro no doubt wants to do just that. He would like to see every one of the policies he outlined Tuesday pass with historic unanimity.
By the same token, the Republican Senate surely would like to see its priorities win out across the board.
And this is how we have seen so many budget addresses devolve into budget impasses. Whether overshooting the mark by a few days or a few weeks or half a year, politicians never make governing a priority over winning.
Could this year be different?
While spelling out ideas such as support for police, career and technical education, and property tax rent rebates for seniors, Shapiro got applause from Democrats and Republicans alike.
But aside from the wish list, he also called attention to what could make this year’s budget process unlike those before it. This time it is not the governor against the lawmakers. Pennsylvania is one of just two states with a divided legislature after Democratic wins gave a narrow edge in the House of Representatives.
It is possible this could mean real negotiations rather than brick walls of partisanship. Maybe that rebate program won’t mean increasing the amount for seniors from $650 to $1,000 but will get it to $850. Maybe the increase won’t happen but the cost-of-living adjustment for qualification will.
In short, maybe none of the big names will be able to run up the scoreboard on the opposition. Maybe the politicians will have to settle for a tie, and the people will be the real winners.
“We can do big things again — if we work together,” Shapiro said, encouraging those on both sides of the aisle to forgo grandstanding after the address and get back to work.
It’s a nice thought — even if, cynically, it’s a bit of a masterpiece in grandstanding itself.
Pennsylvania government has this chance to do the right thing with the budget every year. Some version of the noble “let’s do this for the people” speech is always pitched.
Somehow it’s always a swing and a miss.
