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Lawmakers Return To Harrisburg For A Brief Fall Session

Matt Rourke
/
AP

After a long summer break, the state House is back in session—for now. But lawmakers aren’t expecting to tackle anything too divisive before Election Day.

The House will have just 12 voting days before lawmakers retire to their districts for the election. The Senate, which returns next week, will have nine.

Major items on the docket include decisions on expanded gambling and a state pension overhaul. Governor Tom Wolf is also seeking a joint session to address the opioid crisis.

But Rep. Dom Costa (D-Allegheny), for one, said he doesn’t think the more controversial decisions will be made before Nov. 8. 

“We’re looking at it, but I just don’t believe there’s enough time to get it all done,” Costa said.

Other lawmakers echoed Costa’s view.

Costa also said he’s “hoping that we go into the next session with the bi-partisanship that we’ve been showing toward the end of this session,” and that he expects more will get done next session.

Two post-election voting days are currently on the House schedule, but it’s unclear if any major decisions would be made then.