PA Governor Shapiro proposes "commonsense" budget, even some Republicans are impressed

[Lambsbread]

America's best Governor continues to be great.

https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/republicans-and-democrats-across-pennsylvania-are-praising-governor-josh-shapiros-commonsense-budget/

Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal is receiving bipartisan praise from leaders all across the Commonwealth for its commonsense approach to addressing the challenges Pennsylvanians are facing. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike are lauding how Governor Shapiro’s budget priorities will solve problems, create opportunity, and advance real freedom here in Pennsylvania – and the Governor is ready to bring people together to pass this budget and deliver real results for the people of Pennsylvania.

Some highlights of the proposal:

Several Republicans said they were happy to hear Mr. Shapiro’s emphasis on items like workforce development and infrastructure improvement. And echoing a priority Ms. Ward expressed before Mr. Shapiro spoke, the governor said he wants the state to use federal money to cap and plug the state’s estimated 350,000 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.

K-12 education: Mr. Shapiro’s proposal calls for a 7.8% increase in funding for basic education and a $104 million boost  for special education. That comes as his administration and lawmakers are exploring how to proceed after a state court ruled that Pennsylvania’s funding system for K-12 education is unconstitutional. The ruling did not offer a solution and will likely face appeal, but Mr. Shapiro said it was “a call to action.”

Higher education: Mr. Shapiro bluntly described the state’s higher education system as “not working” and said he has asked Acting Education Secretary Khalid Mumin to convene a group of college and university presidents in a “time-limited work group.” Their job, he said, would be to come up with a plan that he could pitch to lawmakers next year. “Colleges are competing with one another for a limited dollar, they are duplicating degree programs, they are driving up the cost,” Mr. Shapiro said. “And they are actually reducing access, particularly for so many in our minority communities.”

Property tax and rent relief: Mr. Shapiro wants a major expansion of the program that gives out refunds for property tax and rent payments to people who meet set income thresholds. Among the specifics, Mr. Shapiro said, is a proposed increase in the maximum rebate for senior citizens, from $650 to $1,000. The changes would almost double the number of seniors who qualify, he said. While many lawmakers applauded the proposals, Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, said they did nothing to address the underlying problem of rapidly rising property taxes. And the effect of Mr. Shapiro’s proposed increases for both rent and property tax relief, she said, might be to “devalue homeownership.”

State Police funding: Mr. Shapiro took on a persistent Harrisburg headache by proposing a major reform to Pennsylvania State Police funding through the creation of a “Public Safety and Protection Fund.” The new funding system, he said, would rapidly diminish reliance on transfers from the Motor License Fund to fund state police. Because of that, he said, about $1.5 billion more would be available over the next five years for road and bridge projects.

Professions in need: The governor proposed a tax credit to encourage people to become police officers, nurses, and teachers — professionals generally believed to be in short supply across Pennsylvania. And he proposed a first-time, $10 million state investment in public defenders.

Minimum wage: Mr. Shapiro urged lawmakers to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour. The current minimum hasn’t changed in 14 years, lags 30 other states and makes it tougher for Pennsylvania to compete, he said.

Norfolk Southern: Mr. Shapiro said that in a meeting with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, the executive “heard me loud and clear: They need to pay for this, and they are.” The rail company has pledged to spend more than $7 million in Pennsylvania on the response and recovery from the wreck, which spilled toxic chemicals and left residents on both sides of the state border fearing for their health.

Other items: Among many other specific moves, Mr. Shapiro proposed $16.4 million for more state troopers, an additional $10.4 million for preschool early-intervention services, and a $100-million school-based Mental Health Supports block grant program.

[jojoju1998]

America's best Governor continues to be great.

https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/republicans-and-democrats-across-pennsylvania-are-praising-governor-josh-shapiros-commonsense-budget/

Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal is receiving bipartisan praise from leaders all across the Commonwealth for its commonsense approach to addressing the challenges Pennsylvanians are facing. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike are lauding how Governor Shapiro’s budget priorities will solve problems, create opportunity, and advance real freedom here in Pennsylvania – and the Governor is ready to bring people together to pass this budget and deliver real results for the people of Pennsylvania.

Some highlights of the proposal:

Several Republicans said they were happy to hear Mr. Shapiro’s emphasis on items like workforce development and infrastructure improvement. And echoing a priority Ms. Ward expressed before Mr. Shapiro spoke, the governor said he wants the state to use federal money to cap and plug the state’s estimated 350,000 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells.

K-12 education: Mr. Shapiro’s proposal calls for a 7.8% increase in funding for basic education and a $104 million boost  for special education. That comes as his administration and lawmakers are exploring how to proceed after a state court ruled that Pennsylvania’s funding system for K-12 education is unconstitutional. The ruling did not offer a solution and will likely face appeal, but Mr. Shapiro said it was “a call to action.”

Higher education: Mr. Shapiro bluntly described the state’s higher education system as “not working” and said he has asked Acting Education Secretary Khalid Mumin to convene a group of college and university presidents in a “time-limited work group.” Their job, he said, would be to come up with a plan that he could pitch to lawmakers next year. “Colleges are competing with one another for a limited dollar, they are duplicating degree programs, they are driving up the cost,” Mr. Shapiro said. “And they are actually reducing access, particularly for so many in our minority communities.”

Property tax and rent relief: Mr. Shapiro wants a major expansion of the program that gives out refunds for property tax and rent payments to people who meet set income thresholds. Among the specifics, Mr. Shapiro said, is a proposed increase in the maximum rebate for senior citizens, from $650 to $1,000. The changes would almost double the number of seniors who qualify, he said. While many lawmakers applauded the proposals, Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, said they did nothing to address the underlying problem of rapidly rising property taxes. And the effect of Mr. Shapiro’s proposed increases for both rent and property tax relief, she said, might be to “devalue homeownership.”

State Police funding: Mr. Shapiro took on a persistent Harrisburg headache by proposing a major reform to Pennsylvania State Police funding through the creation of a “Public Safety and Protection Fund.” The new funding system, he said, would rapidly diminish reliance on transfers from the Motor License Fund to fund state police. Because of that, he said, about $1.5 billion more would be available over the next five years for road and bridge projects.

Professions in need: The governor proposed a tax credit to encourage people to become police officers, nurses, and teachers — professionals generally believed to be in short supply across Pennsylvania. And he proposed a first-time, $10 million state investment in public defenders.

Minimum wage: Mr. Shapiro urged lawmakers to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour. The current minimum hasn’t changed in 14 years, lags 30 other states and makes it tougher for Pennsylvania to compete, he said.

Norfolk Southern: Mr. Shapiro said that in a meeting with Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, the executive “heard me loud and clear: They need to pay for this, and they are.” The rail company has pledged to spend more than $7 million in Pennsylvania on the response and recovery from the wreck, which spilled toxic chemicals and left residents on both sides of the state border fearing for their health.

Other items: Among many other specific moves, Mr. Shapiro proposed $16.4 million for more state troopers, an additional $10.4 million for preschool early-intervention services, and a $100-million school-based Mental Health Supports block grant program.

Jesus Christ.



And people still think Pete Buttegieg is a contender.




Like, oh my god, why didn't we have more of these governors before ? Why were we stuck with Kamala, Warren, Klobuchar....

[Damocles]

Happy to hear that my birth state is doing well with Governor Shapiro’s administration. He has a solid platform! Genuinely impressed with what he’s doing here.

[libertpaulian]

Shapiro/Polis or Polis/Shapiro 2028.

[LostFellow]

And the effect of Mr. Shapiro’s proposed increases for both rent and property tax relief, she said, might be to “devalue homeownership.”

Lmao the ability of some property owners to always victimize themselves is hilarious.

I would personally prefer more systemic changes to address costs of housing and education than the smattering of tax credits and vouchers that are patch-wise applied to appease every demographic, but the latter is still the modus operandi of politics in America unfortunately.

[John Dule]

And the effect of Mr. Shapiro’s proposed increases for both rent and property tax relief, she said, might be to “devalue homeownership.”

Lmao the ability of some property owners to always victimize themselves is hilarious.

Homeownership turns Americans into paranoid psychotics.

[President Johnson]

Whitmer/Shapiro 2028 or vice versa

[Darthpi – Anti-Florida Activist]

Off to a very good start.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Shapiro/Warnock 2028