{"id":1055618,"date":"2025-08-12T13:54:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/?p=1055618"},"modified":"2025-08-14T13:54:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T17:54:49","slug":"pennsylvanians-brace-for-septa-cuts-after-pa-senate-republicans-continue-to-block-funding-for-mass-transit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/democrats.org\/news\/pennsylvanians-brace-for-septa-cuts-after-pa-senate-republicans-continue-to-block-funding-for-mass-transit\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvanians Brace for SEPTA Cuts After PA Senate Republicans Continue to Block Funding for Mass Transit\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In response to Republicans Joe Picozzi (PA-5), Tracy Pennycuick (PA-24), Frank Farry (PA-6), and Joe Pittman (PA-41) blocking SEPTA funding, <\/em>DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta released the following statement: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPennsylvania Republicans have shown no hesitation in putting SEPTA on the chopping block to play their political games. The longer Republicans delay this crucial funding, the more our communities will feel the pain. How can we expect workers to afford to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads, or students to show up to school, if there is no reliable transportation they can depend on? This isn\u2019t about fiscal responsibility \u2014 we have the money \u2014 this is pure politics and millions of Pennsylvanians will pay the price. Here\u2019s the message for Pennsylvania Republicans from the 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on SEPTA: Either fund transit for Pennsylvanians, or prepare to lose your seat. Transportation shouldn\u2019t be a political game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a bill that would increase funding for Pennsylvania\u2019s transit agencies passed the Pennsylvania House, Senate Republicans are trying to kill the bill \u2014 potentially forcing service cuts across the state. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennsylvania Capital-Star<\/a>: \u201cOn Monday, the state House voted on a bill that would increase funding for transit agencies across the commonwealth. The bill will go to the Republican-controlled Senate, which is set to return to Capitol in Harrisburg tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHouse Democrats say it was a necessary move to shore up funding as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) warns of impending service cuts if they don\u2019t receive more state support. But, Republicans in the chamber accused the other side of the aisle of political gamesmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRepublican Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), however, said the House\u2019s move was nothing but a political show. \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTopper said that the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to act on transit funding <\/strong>as a standalone issue, instead viewing it as part of broader budget negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS News<\/a>: \u201cIn the Republican-controlled state Senate, where the majority has resisted increasing aid for transit, <\/strong>the bill faces an uncertain future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Republicans continue to delay this bill, SEPTA \u2014 one of Philadelphia\u2019s largest transit systems \u2014 will be forced to severely scale back services, leaving families and students scrambling to get to where they need to go. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pennsylvania Capital-Star<\/a>: \u201cRoughly 1 million Pennsylvanians \u2014 about one in 13 people in the state \u2014 use mass transit every day in all 67 counties. About 800,000 of those use SEPTA. <\/strong>But transit authorities outside of the Philadelphia area have also warned they face service cuts if no additional funding is provided by the legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS News<\/a>: \u201cSEPTA previously said the proposed cuts will: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n