‘Robin Hood in reverse.’ Dems call out Trump’s budget cuts one year later

July 9, 2026

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Good afternoon everyone,

It’s Thursday, July 9, and welcome back to another edition of the Keystone Labor Report. You can find Tuesday’s newsletter here.

Sorry for the late send. I was on the road earlier today and traveled to the Scranton area for Mayor Paige Cognetti’s unveiling of her anti-corruption platform.

Sean Kitchen

Political Correspondent, The Keystone

(Sean Kitchen / The Keystone)

This past week marks one year since Republicans in Congress passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, and Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth are already feeling the effects.

Since last year, 98,000 Pennsylvanians have lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and another 160,000 Pennsylvanians lost their healthcare coverage through Pennie, the commonwealth’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, after Republicans refused to extend tax credits that kept premiums affordable.

US Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.) called the cuts, which were used to help pay for tax cuts for the ultra wealthy, “Robin Hood in reverse” while speaking to advocates Wednesday.

“At its essence, you have the largest tax cuts for billionaires in American history, over $5 trillions’ worth paid for by the deepest cuts to healthcare and food assistance in American history,” said Boyle.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are returning to Harrisburg this weekend with hopes of completing the budget, per ABC 27.
Democrats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly are eyeing a legislative trifecta by winning control of the House, Senate, and governor’s mansion come November. Here’s a look at how the commonwealth’s voting laws may change if Democrats control all three branches of government, per Votebeat.
Pennsylvania Senate leaders are still confident that a budget deal is within reaching distance despite leaving Harrisburg prior to last week’s budget deadline, per KYW Newsradio.

(Sean Kitchen / The Keystone)

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti gathered with a few dozen supporters in the Scranton area to unveil her campaign’s anti-corruption platform in her race against US Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.), and banning congressional stock trading topped the list.

Since taking office last year, Bresnahan has become one of the most prolific stock traders in Congress, making nearly 650 trades worth $8.43 million.

“ What we saw in Rob Bresnahan when he came to office is another example in northeastern Pennsylvania of someone getting a job as a public official and using it to line their own pockets,” Cognetti said.

“ This is not a new scenario. We have seen this far too many times in this region, generation after generation, different iterations, different ways that people have decided to line their pockets.”