The year just started, and Gov. Josh Shapiro is already trying to pull one over on taxpayers.

According to recent reports, Shapiro spent more than $92,000 on furnishing the governor’s residence, which included a $4,600 king-size mattress, $5,626 on glass plates, $4,500 on a massaging recliner, and $7,000 on two under-the-counter refrigerators.

In fact, taxpayers were on the hook for the more than $1.8 million upgrades to the governor’s mansion during Shapiro’s first eleven months in office—more than what Shapiro’s two predecessors spent during their first terms.

To make matters worse, the governor’s staff asked the merchants who sold the expensive items to keep quiet about the purchases.

This isn’t the transparency Shapiro promised when he campaigned for governor. And it’s increasingly becoming a trend with his administration. From accepting free tickets and potentially violating his gifts ban to attempting to shortchange the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Shapiro isn’t living up to his promise of being a transparent governor.

That’s why we’re continuing to shine a spotlight on the Shapiro administration.

We’re keeping track of how Shapiro is violating his pledge to be forthright with taxpayers. And we’re also letting him know that the people of Pennsylvania deserve a more open and fiscally responsible government.

Check out our Spotlight Shapiro page to see how open and transparent Shapiro has been during his first year in office.

Please keep an eye on the page throughout the year as we continue to document questionable practices by the Shapiro administration. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. We’ll keep shining a light on Shapiro so taxpayers, like you, aren’t left in the dark.

 - Commonwealth Foundation