With July 4 falling on a Saturday, the federal holiday for government employees and many businesses will be observed on Friday, June 3, this year.

It appears that Pennsylvania Senate Republicans and Democrats have differing ideas on when their holiday break should begin and the tasks remaining.

With the statutory deadline for completion of the state budget at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, the two sides have made alternate plans for the celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Jefferson/Indiana/Westmoreland) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-Berks/Lancaster) issued a statement on completion of the 2026-27 state budget:

“This week, we have received the necessary clarity on many outstanding issues which were delaying completion of this year’s budget. Presently, we believe we are well on our way to effectuating a full budget agreement in the days following July 4th. At the conclusion of session today, the Senate will recess to the call of the President Pro Tempore and will reconvene once final budgetary language is ready to advance.”

All 27 Republican members of the Senate voted for the recess.

All 23 Democratic members of the Senate voted against the motion.

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) spoke out against the recess.

“I objected strongly to the Senate Republicans’ decision to recess without a final deal on a budget,” he said in a social media post. “The people of Pennsylvania deserve elected leaders who do the hard work and finish the job. Let’s buckle down and get this done, not recess.”

Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), minority appropriations chair, said “we’re all here in Harrisburg ready to work and finalize a budget. But, Senate Republicans are taking their ball and going home. The Pennsylvania House is in session until Thursday. The governor is in Harrisburg ready to work. Senate Democrats are here ready to pass a budget.”

Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) said in a social media post that “My Democratic caucus colleagues and I were frustrated to see the Senate majority recess without passing a budget. We voted NO—voting instead to stay in session and finish the job. When Harrisburg misses the deadline, services suffer and people get hurt.”

House Democrats have already passed an appropriations bill that would fund Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desired budget, which totals $53.3 billion in spending from the general fund, the state’s day-to-day operating account.

Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) said Pennsylvanians deserve better in a social media post.

“Clocked out before the job was done. June 30 came and went… and instead of passing a budget, @PASenateGOP recessed for the holiday weekend.”

McClinton then canceled the House’s voting session for Thursday, noting the Senate’s absence.

The only good news – taxes will continue to be collected, state workers will continue to be paid, and programs from Medicaid to environmental permitting to unemployment insurance will continue to operate.