About the PA Budget Summit
Budgets are moral documents—and complex ones—and that’s why KRC/PBPC’s annual Budget Summit event and analysis of the PA Executive Budget form a central part of our mission. The Summit is an indepth look at the governor’s budget proposal, including what it means for education, health and human services, the environment, and local communities.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our 2021 Pennsylvania Budget Summit was an all-virtual event, taking place online on four consecutive Thursdays: March 11, 18, 25, and April 1. All totaled, the Budget Summit provided more than ten hours of policy and advocacy content over the course of those four weeks. More than 230 people registered for the Summit, including thirty speakers, presenters, and panelists, eight of whom were members of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
Despite the change in format, we were able to deliver all the things that our friends, allies, and supporters have come to expect from this annual event: PBPC’s thorough analysis of the governor’s budget proposal and an overview of the challenges & opportunities facing the Commonwealth; state lawmakers sharing their legislative priorities and answering questions from attendees; engaging workshops with policy experts and outstanding advocates; and inspiring speeches from leaders who are committed to advancing shared prosperity for all Pennsylvanians. And we were honored to have Governor Tom Wolf as our keynote speaker on the opening day of the Budget Summit, as he shared his priorities for Pennsylvania and answered questions from attendees.
One advantage of the entirely online format was that we were able to record all six of the workshops and the three plenary sessions, and we are pleased to make all of the recordings, slides, and other resources that were presented during the Summit available on this webpage.
OPENING
Opening Plenary Session: PBPC’s Analysis of Gov. Wolf’s Proposed 2021-22 State Budget
Thursday, March 11
During the opening session, PBPC director Marc Stier and senior policy analyst Diana Polson unveiled the 53-page analysis of the governor’s budget proposal, which the organization released in conjunction with the start of the annual conference. Resources from the session are available here:
Video recording of the budget analysis presentation
Slides presented during the session
PBPC’s Analysis of the PA 2021-22 Executive Budget
KDKA CBS2 Pittsburgh coverage of PBPC’s budget analysis
Plenary Session: Keynote Speech
Thursday, March 11
Governor Wolf’s keynote speech highlighted his budgetary and legislative priorities for 2021 and beyond, and during the Q&A he answered questions about ending homelessness, improving education, and the likely impact of the American Rescue Plan on the state budget. Here are the resources from the keynote address:
Video recording of the governor’s keynote address
WHYY 91FM Philadelphia coverage of Gov. Wolf’s speech
WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Pennsylvania’s School Funding System: Inadequate, Inequitable & Unconstitutional
Thursday, March 18
Attorneys from the Education Law Center and Public Interest Law Center shared information about Pennsylvania’s school funding lawsuit, which will go to trial in 2021. And Susan Spicka, the executive director of Education Voters of PA, discussed proposed reforms to Pennsylvania’s outdated charter school law that will save money and strengthen the commonwealth’s system of public education. Click here to watch the video recording of the workshop.
Speakers:
Michael Churchill, Of Counsel, The Public Interest Law Center
Kristina Moon, Staff Attorney, Education Law Center
Susan Spicka, Executive Director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania
Slides Presented:
Click here to access the slides that were presented by Michael Churchill & Kristina Moon.
Click here to access the slides that were presented by Susan Spicka.
Pennsylvania’s Housing Crisis: The Scope of the Crisis and the Policies to Address It
Thursday, March 18
The housing crisis in Pennsylvania has been growing for many years, but the coronavirus pandemic has both exposed and deepened the problems facing renters and homeowners alike. This workshop featured housing advocates and activists, as well as Levana Layendecker, the associate director of KRC and PBPC.
Speakers:
Levana Layendecker, Associate Director, Keystone Research Center / PBPC
Andrea Mannino, Senior Advisor, Policy & Practice, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
Senator Nikil Saval, 1st Senatorial District of Pennsylvania
Stephanie Sena, Anti Poverty Fellow, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Slides Presented:
Click here to access the slides that were presented by Andrea Mannino.
Click here to access the slides that were presented by Sen. Nikil Saval.
Click here to access the slides that were presented by Stephanie Sena.
Supporting Campaigns for Immigrant Rights in PA
Thursday, March 25
The workshop presented key findings from research produced by the Keystone Research Center and the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, examining the many contributions immigrants bring to the commonwealth. The workshop featured key leaders of campaigns for immigrant rights in the state. Panelists discussed current and pending legislation designed to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania’s immigrant population, namely tuition equity and access to driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. Click here to watch the video recording of the workshop.
Speakers:
Thaís Carrero, PA State Director, CASA
Luis Larin, Coalition Coordinator, Driving PA Forward
Orlando Miranda, Member, CASA
Muhammad Murtaza, Research Associate, KRC
Ivonne Pinto, Member & Promoter, The Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania (MILPA)
Diana Polson, Senior Policy Analyst, PBPC
Slides Presented:
Click here to access the Driving PA Forward slides that were presented by Luis Larin of DPF.
Towards Racial Equity in PA Public Policy
Thursday, March 25
The workshop examined the racial inequities that exist in Pennsylvania and the policy solutions that can advance equity in the commonwealth. The workshop featured a panel discussion with members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, moderated by PBPC associate director Levana Layendecker. Click here to watch the video recording of the workshop.
Speakers:
Rep. Donna Bullock, 195th Legislative District
Rep. Napoleon Nelson, 154th Legislative District
Moderator:
Levana Layendecker, Associate Director, Keystone Research Center / PBPC
Organizing and Mobilizing During a Pandemic: Pro-Tips from the We The People-PA Campaign & Partners
Thursday, April 1
The workshop highlighted creative ideas and tactics for mobilizing advocates and activists in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when social distancing and other necessary protective measures prevent the use of traditional organizing activities and actions. The session included the staff of the We The People-PA campaign and organizers from the campaign’s partner organizations. Click here to watch the video recording of the workshop.
Speakers:
Ricardo Almodovar, Organizing Associate, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
Kat Bakrania, Environmental Justice Organizer, One Pennsylvania
Laila Martín García, Pennsylvania Regional Lead Organizer, CASA
Kadida Kenner, Director of Campaigns, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
Katy Personette, Deputy Director of Campaigns, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
Slides Presented:
Click here to access the slides that were presented during the session.
ReImagine Appalachia: Towards a Climate Infrastructure Stimulus that Kick Starts a “New Deal That Works for US” in the Ohio River Valley States (PA, OH, WV, KY)
Thursday, April 1
The workshop provided an overview of Reimagine Appalachia, a broad and inclusive coalition of individuals and organizations spanning the Ohio River Valley in north central Appalachia—SW PA, SE OH, WV, and eastern KY. The presenters talked about how a diverse set of economic, environmental, labor, and community leaders came together to find common ground and build the future they want to see—a 21st century economy that’s good for workers, communities, and the environment. Since President Biden unveiled his American Jobs Plan in Pittsburgh the day before the workshop, the panelists responded to key elements in the infrastructure plan and discussed how they fit with the ReImagine Appalachia agenda. Click here to watch the video recording of the workshop.
Speakers:
Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director, Keystone Research Center
Amanda Woodrum, Senior Researcher, Policy Matters Ohio
Slides Presented:
Click here to access the slides that were presented during the session.
CLOSING
Closing Plenary Session: Legislative Panel Discussion Thursday, April 1
The panel discussion featured progressive champions in the state legislature discussing their proposed “People’s Budget” and other legislative priorities. The session also featured questions submitted by Summit attendees. Click here to watch the video recording of the session.
Speakers:
Sen. Katie Muth, 44th Senatorial District
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, 184th Legislative District
Rep. Sara Innamorato, 22nd Legislative District
Rep. Rick Krajewski, 188th Legislative District
Rep. Chris Rabb, 200th Legislative District
Moderator:
Corinna Vecsey Wilson, President, Wilson500, Inc.