A deal to end Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate in Harrisburg is coming. The State House has passed the roughly $50 billion plan with a 156-47 vote on Wednesday. The deal, which is expected to send billions to public schools and social services, would break an impasse that’s gone on for 134 days.Under the $50.1 billion budget deal, new authorized spending would rise by about $2.5 billion, or 5%.Practically all of the overall spending increase would go toward Medicaid and public schools. Billions in surplus cash will be required for the plan to balance, the second straight year that Pennsylvania is running a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.The deal could reach Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk by the end of the day.A key concession to help seal a deal meant Democrats agreeing to Republican demands to back off any effort to make Pennsylvania the only major fossil fuel-producing state to force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.Democrats won’t get the amount of money that Shapiro originally sought in his initial budget proposal, but the deal — after weeks of closed-door negotiations — is expected to deliver substantial new sums to public schools and an earned income tax credit for lower earners, as Democrats had sought.Budget back-and-forthLawmakers were not initially scheduled to be in Harrisburg this week, but reconvened for legislative sessions after closed-door meetings between caucus leaders and Gov. Josh Shapiro late last month.Shapiro proposed a $51.4 billion spending plan back in early February, which was met with significant pushback from GOP lawmakers, who said it would require burning through reserves with one-time expenditures.Key issuesAmong the key issues that have contributed to the impasse is how much money to spend, with House Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in that chamber, focused on increases in education spending.But Senate Republicans have sought concessions on controlled spending and getting Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.Senate lawmakers met Tuesday night to advance budget-related bills ahead of what was expected to be a busy Wednesday at the State Capitol.A months-long impasse has held up billions of dollars in funding for counties, schools, nonprofits, and other services.Senate Republicans had pushed for Pennsylvania to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a tough sell for some Democrats who believe Pennsylvania should remain in the environmentally focused initiative.House Democrats had been pushing for an increase in education funding, though GOP lawmakers have said the state needs to control spending and is at risk of burning through surplus and reserve dollars.Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

A deal to end Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate in Harrisburg is coming.

The State House has passed the roughly $50 billion plan with a 156-47 vote on Wednesday. The deal, which is expected to send billions to public schools and social services, would break an impasse that’s gone on for 134 days.

Under the $50.1 billion budget deal, new authorized spending would rise by about $2.5 billion, or 5%.

Practically all of the overall spending increase would go toward Medicaid and public schools. Billions in surplus cash will be required for the plan to balance, the second straight year that Pennsylvania is running a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

The deal could reach Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk by the end of the day.

A key concession to help seal a deal meant Democrats agreeing to Republican demands to back off any effort to make Pennsylvania the only major fossil fuel-producing state to force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

Democrats won’t get the amount of money that Shapiro originally sought in his initial budget proposal, but the deal — after weeks of closed-door negotiations — is expected to deliver substantial new sums to public schools and an earned income tax credit for lower earners, as Democrats had sought.

Budget back-and-forth

Lawmakers were not initially scheduled to be in Harrisburg this week, but reconvened for legislative sessions after closed-door meetings between caucus leaders and Gov. Josh Shapiro late last month.

Shapiro proposed a $51.4 billion spending plan back in early February, which was met with significant pushback from GOP lawmakers, who said it would require burning through reserves with one-time expenditures.

Key issues

Among the key issues that have contributed to the impasse is how much money to spend, with House Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in that chamber, focused on increases in education spending.

But Senate Republicans have sought concessions on controlled spending and getting Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Senate lawmakers met Tuesday night to advance budget-related bills ahead of what was expected to be a busy Wednesday at the State Capitol.

A months-long impasse has held up billions of dollars in funding for counties, schools, nonprofits, and other services.

Senate Republicans had pushed for Pennsylvania to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a tough sell for some Democrats who believe Pennsylvania should remain in the environmentally focused initiative.

House Democrats had been pushing for an increase in education funding, though GOP lawmakers have said the state needs to control spending and is at risk of burning through surplus and reserve dollars.

Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.