Is Shapiro Serving Students or His Union Backers?

Welcome to Common Sense Weekly! This is the Commonwealth Foundation’s weekly news roundup of policy issues debated in Harrisburg and across Pennsylvania.

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Gov. Shapiro Needs to Serve Students, Not Supporters

Two years ago, Governor Josh Shapiro boldly promised to save Pennsylvania’s children trapped in failing schools.

When asked on Fox News about the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS), also known as Lifeline Scholarships, he said, “I believe every child of God deserves a shot here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And one of the best ways we can guarantee their success is making sure every child has a quality education.”

With these words, he cleared a political path for the PASS/Lifeline Scholarships Program. Unfortunately, 12 days later, he broke that promise.

Pennsylvania Senate Slashes Red Tape

The Pennsylvania Senate passed two pieces of legislation promising extensive regulatory reforms in a 27–23 vote. These bills would require legislative approval of costly new rules and automatic three-year reviews of economically significant regulations.

Modeled after the federal Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, Senate Bill (SB) 333 would require legislative approval for any regulation that exceeds an annual burden of $1 million, referred to as “economically significant regulations.” Also, SB 444 creates an automatic three-year review of “economically significant” regulations, ensuring that existing regulations remain beneficial.

These provisions protect Pennsylvania’s small businesses from unilateral action by government bureaucrats that impose billions of dollars in costs and stifle economic growth.

Energy Regulations Threaten Pennsylvania’s Tech Boom

Pennsylvania is on the short list of destinations for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the commonwealth—thanks to ill-advised policies pushed by Gov. Josh Shapiro—remains ill-equipped to handle this emerging market.

On Monday, the governor announced a $20 billion investment by Amazon to develop data centers statewide. Though a laudable investment, the governor’s publicity stunt highlights a glaring issue: State policies make it extremely expensive to set up shop in Pennsylvania and tap into the state’s abundant energy resources.

And the governor’s proposals to address this issue will actually make things worse.

Shapiro, Fetterman Talk Out of Both Sides of Their Mouths About U.S. Steel

The recent news of a new multibillion-dollar deal between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel has many celebrating. Even Sen. John Fetterman and Gov. Josh Shapiro cheered. Yet, these high-profile Pennsylvania lawmakers have been singing an entirely different tune for years.

In fact, both openly opposed the U.S. Steel–Nippon deal—that is, until it became politically expedient.

A New Chapter: Announcing the Thomas E. Beach Center

This week marks an important milestone for the Commonwealth Foundation, with the opening and dedication of its new headquarters. The Thomas E. Beach Center, a three-story building located just steps from the state Capitol, serves as an enduring symbol of the organization’s continued growth, influence, and effectiveness. Most importantly, it’s a fitting tribute to Tom Beach and the unparalleled role he has played in advancing the organization and its mission.

Stay tuned for next week’s 
Common Sense Weekly.