Common Sense Weekly
Here's Commonwealth Foundation's weekly news roundup of policy issues being debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.
We hope you have a great weekend!
Shapiro's Spooky Spending Spree
As everyday Pennsylvanians struggle to afford the ever-increasing cost of living in the Keystone State, the governor enjoys a lavish life of luxury. With Pennsylvania taxpayers footing the bill, Shapiro continues to live large, dodge disclosure, and use public resources to build his personal brand.
Here are the six most frightening expenses that Shapiro likes to keep in the shadows.
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Education Tax Credits are a Lifeline for Low-Income Families
Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh isn’t just a school. It’s a sanctuary of hope and safety, a place that nurtures dreams and builds bright futures. Through a holistic approach that combines faith, academics, arts, and athletics, it empowers students to reach their full potential.
For many of these students, Imani is the only viable path out of poverty and into a future filled with promise. Every Imani student goes on to college, vocational training, or some post-secondary program after graduation.
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“Groundbreaking Academic Improvements” in Philly Schools? Hardly!
Imagine a hospital with a 17% survival rate. Would you be willing to listen to the hospital’s CEO brag about his facility’s “groundbreaking health improvements”? Probably not.
So why celebrate a school district where only 17 percent of fourth graders can read at grade level? That’s precisely what happened during the most recent Council of Great City Schools’ annual conference.
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Shapiro for President? He Should Try to Be a Governor First.
In The Wall Street Journal, Joseph Epstein recently admitted to daydreaming about Gov. Josh Shapiro as a presidential candidate. He claims the Pennsylvania governor is “thoughtful, scandal-free, honorable” and doesn’t “diddle away his days posting dopey messages online.”
Epstein isn’t alone. There is another individual who fantasizes about a Josh Shapiro presidency, often at the expense of more-pressing responsibilities. His name is Josh Shapiro. And he seems more interested in measuring drapes at Pennsylvania Avenue than governing Pennsylvania.
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Commonwealth Foundation Testifies on Energy Affordability
On October 28, lawmakers and policy experts from across the Mid-Atlantic region convened in Harrisburg to address rising energy costs and discuss potential solutions.
Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy for the Commonwealth Foundation, was among the many who testified before the House Republican Policy Committee during a joint hearing on energy reliability and affordability.
Since Stelle’s testimony, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced House Bill 1924, or the Load Forecast Accountability Act. The bill is similar to a policy reform highlighted by Stelle.
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New Juvenile Justice Bills Cut Costs, Curb Recidivism, and Protect Kids
It’s early afternoon, and you’re about to pick up your teenage son from school when you learn he’s been taken into custody for minor theft—and you were never notified. Suddenly, your son is missing school, stuck in custody until trial, and headed to an institutional facility with a criminal record. Your family faces financial strain navigating the juvenile system, and your child’s future is at risk—all over a minor first-time offense.
Sadly, this is the reality for many Pennsylvania kids and families. Current practices, such as out-of-home placements and high fees, fail to prevent reoffending, inflicting more harm and injustice.
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