This time, the Senate returned after a six-week reprieve to advance a $47 billion stopgap spending plan that level-funds most of state government while leaders negotiate the contested aspects: how the commonwealth will afford more money for schools and public transit without worsening a multi-billion-dollar shortfall.

“This budget is grounded in reality and the reality is that we cannot spend money that we do not have,” said Sen. Kristin Philips-Hill, R-Jacobus. “The special interests who are pushing for more funding forget who signs the back of the checks – the taxpayers of our commonwealth.”

“Today the Senate passed a responsible short-term budget that immediately releases funding for schools, nursing homes and human services while also advancing a comprehensive transportation plan that supports mass transit and roads,” said President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg. “Our proposal exceeds Gov. Josh Shapiro’s plan using only existing funds. Pennsylvania is at a critical crossroads financially. Senate Republicans have put forward a solution that protect taxpayers, and Gov. Shapiro and House Democrats still have not answered what taxes are they willing to raise on Pennsylvanians.”

Democrats in the Senate, however, said Tuesday that by disregarding Shapiro’s proposal, their stopgap measure accomplishes nothing.

“It ignores the proposal the governor made,” said Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia. “It does not fund our schools. It does not address the increases in the education funding that have been mandated by the courts. It does not address the transit needs that are desperately needed and we should vote no.”

The bill passed the upper chamber along a party-line vote. It awaits action in the House, which has no scheduled session days until Sept. 22.

Democratic leaders, who control the voting calendar in the lower chamber, said in a joint statement that “the Senate finally returned to Harrisburg – six weeks later – but they failed to do their job.