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!
Josh Shapiro Loves Shutdowns
When it comes to shutdowns, Gov. Josh Shapiro just can’t seem to get enough.
Pennsylvania remains the only state in the nation without an enacted or partial budget in place. Why? Shapiro is insisting on billions in deficit spending that would force a tax hike of nearly $2,000 on working families. As a result, Pennsylvania continues to suffer the effects of the Shapiro shutdown—now in its fourth month.
But as if that weren’t bad enough, Shapiro enthusiastically endorsed the federal government shutdown. Last week, he took yet another out-of-state trip for a national media appearance on The Breakfast Club, where the governor declared he’s “all in,” supporting U.S. Senate Democrats’ filibuster that has brought the federal government to a halt.
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Pennsylvania Senate Passes Budget Plan and More
This week, the Pennsylvania Senate advanced legislation, including a spending bill (Senate Bill 160), that protects taxpayers and fosters economic growth.
The spending plan—totaling $47.9 billion—balances fiscal responsibility while protecting against future tax increases. Along with their spending plan, the Senate also advanced key pieces of legislation to protect the state’s energy sector from RGGI participation and advance significant permitting reform to remove the burden of red tape across Pennsylvania industry.
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Josh Shapiro’s Destructive Energy Policies Spill Across the Border
The New Jersey gubernatorial race has been electric — really. Soaring electricity costs have become the focal point of the race between the two leading candidates: Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
But what Jersey voters don’t realize is that a dark horse candidate is driving up electricity costs. This individual isn’t on the ballot — he’s not even in New Jersey. In fact, he’s in a neighboring state. The candidate? Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
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WATCH: New Statewide Ad Calls Out Governor Shapiro For Budget Impasse
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School Districts Hoarding Millions Claim the State is “Bleeding” Them
As the Pennsylvania budget stalemate approaches its fourth month, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the state’s failure to release education funding is “bleeding” school districts in lost interest income. The article notes that the state has earned $40 million in interest since July 1st on money budgeted to school districts.
To be clear, districts are not bemoaning the lack of funds. Instead, they are complaining that they aren’t earning interest on the funds.
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