Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
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Shapiro's Taxpayer-Funded Vanity
Gov. Josh Shapiro wants you to think he is a superhero. The governor released a new video, casting himself as a video-game fighter battling for Pennsylvanians against greed and inflation.
But don’t be fooled. Shapiro is fighting for only one person: himself. While Pennsylvanians struggle to put food on the table, Shapiro spends a shamefully inordinate amount of time on self-promotion.
But the only pockets being filled are Shapiro’s. In fact, the governor has been living large on the taxpayers’ dime.
Gov. Shapiro's Energy Policies Will Cost Pennsylvanians
Gov. Josh Shapiro wants you to believe that he is saving you money. “From childcare to health care to energy, we’ve been focused on cutting costs across the board,” said the governor during his recent budget address.
He’s not — especially on energy. His energy plans are on course to raise energy costs for Pennsylvanians.
If Obamacare Works, Why Do Pennsylvanians Need to Prop It Up?
During his budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro claimed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “is working for Pennsylvanians.” So, is he right? Judging by his 2025–26 budget plan, even the governor may doubt the ACA truly works for Pennsylvanians.
If it’s working, why do rural hospitals need cash infusions? Shapiro proposes $10 million for rural hospitals and another $20 million for “hospital partners” for patient safety and services. Meanwhile, no evidence exists the ACA has slowed rural hospital closures.
If it’s working, why is there a statewide care provider shortage? A fact Shapiro acknowledged in his address. Notably, his budget adds $10 million above the existing $8 million to repay loans for primary care medical professionals.
Political Hit Job on Cyber Charter Schools
Forget better schools. Apparently, Pennsylvania students need fewer schools, even if that means hurting the kids who need the most help.
That’s effectively the message that two of our state’s leaders have sent in the past few weeks. First, Gov. Josh Shapiro demanded cutting funding for cyber charter schools by more than 40% per student. Second, state Auditor General Timothy DeFoor issued a misleading report that’s fueling assaults on cyber charters for supposedly wasting taxpayer money.
VOTE: Shapiro's Self-Promotion Madness
This March, we’re pitting the governor’s top eight cringiest videos against one another. Each round, two videos will face off, and voters on Twitter/X can vote for the “cringiest” of the two.
After each round of voting, we will post updates for the bracket on the Commonwealth Foundation blog.
