Appropriations Committee

Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced a $50.8 billion spending plan after a week-and-a-half delay, including funding for public education, energy policies, and teacher pensions. The bipartisan budget excludes tax code changes and recreational marijuana, with the governor's proposed funding sources now requiring legislative action due to a court ruling.

Senate Republicans are advancing next year’s government funding bill without Democratic support, causing a stalemate that risks disrupting bipartisan spending negotiations. A canceled Appropriations Committee meeting highlights the breakdown in cooperation between the parties.

Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, held a town hall event to address concerns about his past treatment of women and stabilize his campaign ahead of a primary. He denied allegations from an ex-girlfriend and emphasized his focus on Senate committee goals and criticism of John Fetterman's conduct.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary, faced questioning in back-to-back congressional hearings before the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees. Democrats sought to challenge his record leading the nation’s health agency, with topics including vaccines and the Merck & Co. Hepatitis B Vaccine Act (MAHA).