Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa., August 13, 2024 — Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate should have Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro asking himself, why Walz, writes Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Charles Mitchell in his Sunday Penn Live op-ed.

Mitchell notes:

While our governor has made “get sh*t done” his motto, his track record is surprisingly sparse.

That’s where our governor should focus all his energy going forward. He needs to start keeping his promises. The ones that convinced Pennsylvanians to elect him in 2022. The ones that would give him a better shot in future elections—not just in the state, but nationally.

There’s no shortage of unkept promises to choose from. …

Topping the list: Lifeline Scholarships to help low-income kids in failing schools get the world-class education they deserve. Sadly, Shapiro refused to fight for the scholarships in the budget he signed last month, after vetoing the scholarships last year. …

Another promise to keep: Cut taxes. Shapiro vowed to cut the corporate tax from about 10% to 4% by next year, which would lead to a new era of job creation and pay raises for working families. But neither of his budget proposals even mentioned this policy. If he’s serious about making Pennsylvania a regional economic powerhouse, he needs to cut taxes, and fast. …

[Shapiro] wants to be president. But as many of his detractors told the media, his ambition hasn’t been matched by his commitment to lead. He hasn’t done the hard work of governing.

Our governor needs to lead now.

Please read Mitchell’s full op-ed here.

###

The Commonwealth Foundation turns free-market ideas into public policies, fostering prosperity for all Pennsylvanians.