Hey John, did you read this email from Josh Shapiro? His new budget would invest billions in public education, economic development, transportation and more across Pennsylvania — without raising taxes and leaving $11 billion in the bank. We don’t want to exaggerate, but it’s a game-changer. Read Josh’s full message below, then chip in to help him continue fighting for every community and family across Pennsylvania → Yesterday, I delivered my second budget proposal to Pennsylvania lawmakers — and I’m so excited to share the details with you. Whether it’s investing in public education or uplifting small businesses, I’m committed to making Pennsylvania a place where everyone can thrive.
First, I’m thrilled to say that we’re continuing to invest in Pennsylvania’s students and teachers. In total, we’re delivering $1.1 billion in new funding this year for Pennsylvania public schools — and best of all, no school will receive less than what they did last year. In addition, I’ve proposed increasing special education funding by $50 million, and another $30 million increase in Pre-K programs. I’m also proposing $1.5 billion over the next five years to make our schools healthier and safer by fixing broken pipes, eliminating asbestos, and completing other repairs — ensuring that our children can focus on their studies, not run-down school buildings. I’m also taking action to invest in economic development across PA. After all, Ohio invested seven times more in economic development than Pennsylvania last year, despite having a smaller population. It’s time for that to change. One of my top priorities is investing in site development for businesses. These businesses are ready to move, but the lack of large, shovel-ready sites in Pennsylvania is harming our Commonwealth. That’s why my budget invests $500 million to develop these job-creating sites. Additionally, I’m proposing $25 million for our new Main Street Matters initiative to support small businesses, downtowns, and Main Streets all across the Commonwealth. Local shops and businesses are part of the lifeblood of Pennsylvania, and I’m proud to help empower their communities in every way I can. Finally, I want to invest in our Commonwealth’s infrastructure to ensure every Pennsylvanian can get to where they need to go safely and efficiently. Last year, we repaired over 7,000 miles of PA roadways — and this year, I’m proposing $125 million to keep our roads safe and well-maintained. But not every Pennsylvanian only gets around by car. That’s why I’m proposing the first major new investment in public transit in over a decade. I’ve proposed $1.5 billion over the next five years to public transit agencies across Pennsylvania — including a $161 million increase in SEPTA funding. I want to be clear: These are just a small handful of the new investments I’m proposing in Pennsylvania’s new budget — and best of all, we can accomplish all of this without raising taxes even a cent and leaving $11 billion in the bank. Whether it’s supporting rural health care, raising the minimum wage to $15, or investing in Pennsylvania’s farmworkers, I’m so proud to deliver real, impactful solutions across our Commonwealth. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
Thank you for reading — I’m so proud to help deliver this meaningful change across PA. – Josh |
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