Follow along live with 2021-22 Pa. Senate Budget Hearings live

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The Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee has commenced 2021-22 Budget hearings and we have begun hearing from state agencies about their financial outlook for the next fiscal year., under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $37.87 billion budget.

It is important to understand Pennsylvania’s financial outlook. Pennsylvania is looking at a historic relief package coming from the American Rescue Plan, which will help address a lot of issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have structural deficits that must be addressed beyond the one-time infusion of capital from the federal government.

Click the button below to watch budget hearings live as they happen or catch archived video of budget hearings at senatorhughes.com/budget.

As the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I encourage everyone watch these hearings and get informed. We will need active, engaged citizens to help defend the priorities the governor put forth in his budget.

The hearings began Monday at 10 a.m. with the Independent Fiscal Office, followed by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Video of those hearings will be available at senatorhughes.com/budget shortly after the individuals hearings have finished. Because of the pandemic, we will be operating on a different schedule than in years past. Here is how the schedule will work this year:

Monday, March 22, 2021

10:00 am – Department of Corrections / Board of Probation & Parole
2:00 pm – Department of Community & Economic Development

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

10:00 am – State-Related Universities
1:00 pm –  Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
3:00 pm – Pennsylvania Treasury Department

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

10:00 am – PA Liquor Control Board
1:00 pm –  Office of Attorney General
3:00 pm – Office of Auditor General

Thursday, April 8, 2021

10:00 am – Department of Labor & Industry
2:00 pm –  Department of Agriculture

Thursday, April 22, 2021

10:00 am – Department of Health
2:00 pm –  Budget Secretary / Governor’s Executive Office & Department of General Services

Please refer to the schedule above as needed and remember you can get that information and more at senatorhughes.com/budget. I appreciate your concern for this critical budget and urge you support our goals to build back a better Pennsylvania.

Remember, we are still in the middle of a pandemic. You can do your part to help Sheryl and I in the #StopTheVirus campaign by doing these three things: Get a mask, get the test, get the vaccine.