Kail Praises Removal of Consequential Carbon Tax in State Budget

November 12, 2025

HARRISBURG – After nearly four and a half long months without a state budget, Rep. Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) announced the House passed a $50.1 billion budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year.

He released the following statement:

“While not every budget is perfect, and I voted against the general appropriation because it spends too much, there were wins today I voted for that are a victory for common sense. For years, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his fellow Democrats have openly voiced support for an assault on Pennsylvania’s energy industry through the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – a carbon tax that drove energy prices up and eliminated many jobs.

“I am pleased to report that, as part of the agreement, we will reassert the authority of the General Assembly by repealing, by law, the regulations that put us into RGGI.

“From the very beginning, I voiced significant concerns about this plan because of the dire impacts it would have on our district and Pennsylvania as a whole. For years, Pennsylvania has cemented itself as one of the top energy exporters in the nation, generating much-needed revenue for the state. RGGI was a classic case of authoritarianism, the opposite of productivity where we became more reliant on others for energy. 

“I am grateful to see our efforts finally pay off.

“Let’s live up to our earned reputation as an energy producer by using the abundance of natural resources right beneath our feet. Doing so creates significant affordability for families across this great Commonwealth. We want to be a shining example for all to follow. Not only do we want to take care of the people who are here; we also want to show out-of-staters who are looking for new opportunities to look no further than Pennsylvania because we have a competitive, pro-family environment.”



Representative Joshua Kail
15th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nate Temple
717.260.6396
ntemple@pahousegop.com 
RepKail.com