Shapiro’s “Jesse James” Budget Robs Pennsylvanians Blind

July 12, 2026

HARRISBURG – Leadership of the Senate and the House of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has conspired to literally steal money from our taxpayers to give to the special interest lobbyists who have revolving-door access to their offices, said Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks).

That should come as little surprise since the governor likes to steal land as well.
“Today, when Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 budget was finally offered for a vote, I reminded my colleagues that while Jesse James was an unrepentant thief he would never rob on the Sabbath,” Maloney said. “With only 35 ‘no’ votes in the House, today Democrats in General Assembly have now outdone even the most famous bank robber in American history.”

Shapiro’s budget steals even more for Local Share Accounts (LSAs) this time around, which cuts into the fund that is supposed to be meant solely for property tax relief. That’s right. Back in 2000, the General Assembly voted to take casino funds meant for property tax reduction to fund pet projects, which was also expanded to include fire company grants.

Maloney also previously explained to constituents how LSA funds are frequently wasted on pie-in-the-sky schemes.

“The fire and EMS grants, while they are good things that should be funded, were created by looting the property relief fund,” Maloney said. “I also showed how the Pennsylvania Game Commission is using your property tax relief funds to pay its own taxes while the commission has over $500 million in the bank. This budget is also likely to include retroactive oil, gas and mineral rights in favor of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“The Shapiro budget passed by the General Assembly today is not only a farce, it is filled with dangerous provisions that will cripple our Commonwealth far into the future. I was an emphatic ‘no.’”


Representative David Maloney
130th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives