Economic Report: Pennsylvania Starts 2026 with $17.8M Deficit as Senate Objection Extends Veteran Pay Gap

(Isstories Editorial):- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Jan 8, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – After Senator Roger Wicker objected on October 8, 2025 to a unanimous consent request to pass S. 1032, the Major Richard Star Act, the request did not proceed despite 76 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill did not become law, the offset remained unchanged as January 2026 began.

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An economic analysis from 54KVeterans.org finds Pennsylvania began January 2026 with a continuing reduction in ch 61 combat injured veteran, household purchasing power.

The analysis focuses on the retirement offset affecting medically retired, combat injured veterans and frames the ongoing impact as a measurable reduction in monthly consumer spending across Pennsylvania communities.

Pennsylvania Impact Summary

54KVeterans.org estimates that 1,239 Pennsylvania combat injured retirees remain impacted by the retirement offset and applies an average monthly household loss estimate of $1,200 to translate the policy into local economic impact.

Estimated monthly reduction in Pennsylvania purchasing power
$1,200 x 1,239 = $1,486,800 per month

Estimated annual reduction in Pennsylvania purchasing power
$1,486,800 x 12 = $17,841,600 per year

Senate Procedure Context: Senator Roger Wicker and the Unanimous Consent Objection

During Senate floor consideration of the Major Richard Star Act, a unanimous consent request did not proceed after Senator Roger Wicker entered an objection. The procedural sequence and the objection are reflected in the official record of Senate proceedings on October 8, 2025, documented in the Congressional Record on GovInfo.

54KVeterans.org notes that the practical result of this Senate procedure is that the offset remained unchanged into January 2026 for impacted Pennsylvania retirees.

Pennsylvania Leaders Urged to Elevate the Issue: Senator John Fetterman, Senator Dave McCormick, Governor Josh Shapiro

54KVeterans.org urges Senator John Fetterman, Senator Dave McCormick, and Governor Josh Shapiro to press Senate leadership for a floor path that can succeed despite procedural objections and to keep Pennsylvania’s economic impact visible in ongoing negotiations.

The organization emphasizes that Senator John Fetterman and Senator Dave McCormick cannot resolve Senate procedure alone, but they can elevate the issue through sustained leadership engagement, public positioning, and coordinated floor strategy.

Pennsylvania Resolutions on the Record

54KVeterans.org points to Pennsylvania’s formal legislative record urging federal action, including:

Pennsylvania House Resolution 234, available on the Pennsylvania General Assembly bill history page

Pennsylvania Senate Resolution 116, available on the Pennsylvania General Assembly bill history page

Legislative Remedy Cited: S.Amdt. 4056

To align federal outcomes with Pennsylvania’s stated legislative intent, 54KVeterans.org cites S.Amdt. 4056 as the active legislative vehicle and urges Pennsylvania’s delegation to pursue a floor outcome tied to that vehicle. The amendment text is available on Congress.gov.

54K Veterans Lead, Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (ret.) 

“Pennsylvania is losing $1,486,800 per month in household purchasing power while this offset remains in place,” said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.). “Senator John Fetterman, Senator Dave McCormick, and Governor Josh Shapiro have national media contacts that most veterans will never have. I am urging them to use those relationships now, going into 2026, to explain clearly what happened on October 8, 2025 in the U.S. Senate when the Major Richard Star Act did not advance after the objection. The public still does not understand this issue because coverage has been far too limited.”

About 54KVeterans.org

54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat injured veterans providing data and advocacy related to the Major Richard Star Act and the retirement pay offset affecting medically retired veterans.

This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.