Reporter Elena Eisenstadt contributed to this article

HARRISBURG— The state budget is 36 days late.

Political leaders continue to meet, with Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman saying he met with Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro on Tuesday, and he “continue[s] to be optimistic that consensus on a responsible budget can be reached."

“We have a sense of urgency to this. We're very serious about it. We're very focused on it,” said Pittman in an interview last Friday. "But this budget is more than just the deadline. It’s making sure we have the right policies in place,” Pittman said.

While the clock ticks, cuts to public transit funds are putting political pressure on Democrats in urban centers.

“We’re very much concerned about not getting something completed. We don't feel that there's a sense of any urgency here,” said Pittsburgh Democrat Sen. Jay Costa during a press conference today. Costa is the Senate Democratic Leader. "And it's imperative that we move forward, given that we know these very difficult timelines that we have to meet."

Southeast Pennsylvania generates around 40% of the whole state’s revenue.
SEPTA, the area’s public transit system, is critical to economic stability, Costa says — and needs funds by August 14 to stop major cuts to service.

"The impact it's going to have on people's ability to get to and from the city for work for school, for a variety of other purposes— It's unconscionable, quite frankly, to allow that to occur when we believe that there's a reasonable and sensible solution in place,” Costa said.

Democrats want a $293 million increase to mass transit funding statewide. Republicans say more investment requires more accountability.

“We’re willing to support transit, but with that support needs to come accountability and local share,” Pittman said. "The local communities that receive this benefit need to step up more than they have.”

Republicans also want more funding for roads and bridges — which Democrats don’t oppose.

"The infrastructure, the roads and bridges, are important to Democrats, too,” said Sen. Vincent Hughes, the Democratic chair for Senate Appropriations Committee.

While there is agreement on transit policy, an agreed to spend number is elusive with a final budget still not done. Costa today said he wants to see $293 for transit, and thus $293 for roads and bridges.

Republicans have remained staunch that a state budget not increase a structural deficit; which leaves limited funds to divide between a variety of policy areas.

This afternoon, the House Transportation Committee voted on a new transit funding bill— signaling readiness to vote on policies.