Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
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Gov. Josh Shapiro Still Ain’t Got Sh*t Done
Heading into his third budget negotiation, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official slogan starkly contrasts with his legislative accomplishments. A Commonwealth Foundation analysis found Shapiro’s first two-and-a-half years in office were the least productive of any Pennsylvania gubernatorial term in at least 50 years.
Shapiro came to office with a strong mandate and pledged to work together with Republicans in the state Capitol. However, his inability to broker a bipartisan state budget deal in 2023 and his ultimatums to lawmakers, such as passing his carbon tax to stop Pennsylvania’s entrance into a regional carbon tax, have led to little across-the-aisle collaboration.
Shapiro Must Lead, Not Litigate
Gov. Josh Shapiro seems less interested in governing and more interested in reliving his days as attorney general. A federal judge recently issued an injunction against the Trump administration regarding paused pandemic-era education funding. The original motion includes 17 plaintiffs: 16 state attorneys general and one governor. Guess which governor.
It should come as no surprise, though. Shapiro made a big media spectacle about his legal intentions. “[I]f anybody tries to take anything from Pennsylvanians, particularly our students, they’ll have to go through me,” said Shapiro.
PA House Democrats Threaten Thousands of Cyber Charter Students with New Bill
This week, Pennsylvania House Democrats passed House Bill (HB) 1500, which would slash funding for cyber school students.
Public cyber charter schools educate more than 64,000 students across the commonwealth. For many families, especially in rural regions of the state, cyber charters offer the most accessible alternative for their children. Despite this, House Democrats continue to villainize cyber charter schools and financially restrain students from alternative options that better fit their academic needs.
PRESS Passes Out of Committee, Threatening Another Hike in Electric Bills
The Pennsylvania House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee passed House Bill 501, one legislative component of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s overarching energy proposal known as the “Lightning Plan.”
The timing of this proposal couldn’t be worse. On June 1st, Pennsylvanians experienced statewide electricity rate hikes, some up to 16 percent.
Pennsylvania Voters Reject Governor Shapiro’s Green Energy Boondoggle
On Monday, a Pennsylvania House committee passed part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s broader energy plans. However, the proposed legislation is both politically unpopular and economically devastating to the commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee passed House Bill (HB) 501. If enacted, the bill would codify the governor’s Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) proposal. PRESS would quadruple Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), which mandates power suppliers increase their use of solar and wind in power generation.
