EAST STROUDSBURG -- It's been more than seven months since state lawmakers should have passed a budget.
On Friday, some high school students in Monroe County got the chance to ask their state representative why one still isn't in place.
East Stroudsburg Area South High School students began asking the tough questions, going one on one with State Representative David Parker.
"I wanted to know what was going on with the state budget and how he plans to try to get one passed in time," said senior Christopher Toleno.
It's a question that's been looming now that Pennsylvania lawmakers are more than seven months past the deadline, affecting schools all across the commonwealth that rely on state funding.
"The uncertainty that not having a budget creates, it just kills the state," said Rep. David Parker, (R) 115th District. "People look at Pennsylvania and say, 'They can't even pass a budget. Why do I want to move my business there?' It's bad all the way around."
Rep. Parker is a Republican serving his first term in the state house. He says his focus is on making sure new school funding formulas are applied and that Monroe County gets the property tax relief that's needed. He's unsure when a budget may finally be passed and signed.
"I understand the hard work and frustration that goes with passing something this big, so I appreciate him and all his hard work that he's been doing for it," said senior Leila Bouchekouk.
This event wasn't planned by the school; these students actually put it together themselves. Interacting with state lawmakers is part of the curriculum at East Stroudsburg Area South.
It's something teachers say the students embrace.
"They want to hear both sides before they form their own opinion and I think that's a sign of real intelligence," said history teacher Michael Healey.
As students shook hands with their representative, they remain hopeful a budget gets passed, before Governor Wolf presents his next budget on Tuesday.
"To be completely honest, I know he's working as hard as he can to get a budget passed, but at this point in time the state legislature does need to step up and get a budget passed," said Toleno.