Pennsylvania’s Democrat governor pulls support for school choice, breaks campaign pledge

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pulled his support for school choice Wednesday after a multi-day budget impasse with the legislature.

The deadlock left Shapiro, a Democrat, in the embarrassing position of threatening to use a line-item veto on his own school choice proposal, according to Spotlight PA.

“It is a shame the governor does not have enough respect and standing within his own party to follow through with his promise,” Republicans in the state Senate said in a statement. “Strong leadership requires the ability to bring people together, but instead we are met with Governor Shapiro’s failure to deliver his commitment to empower parents and give children access to educational opportunities.”

Senate Republicans blasted the governor for breaking one of his signature campaign promises, and instead caving in to special interests in his own party that oppose school choice.  

Republican senators in the Keystone state are doubly dismayed because they previously passed a budget that included several Democrat priorities, as a compromise in return for the governor’s support for school choice, Spotlight PA noted.  

“What I find most troubling is the fact that Governor Shapiro seems to have been dishonest throughout this whole process,” said Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, according to local WPXI 11 News. “The truth is these are horrendous school districts, and we need to provide an option for students and their parents to make decisions that are best for them.”  

Senate GOP leaders Kim Ward and Joe Pittman warned the budget drama is far from over.  Spotlight PA says a quirky provision in the Pennsylvania Constitution requires presiding officers to sign off on bills before they head to the governor’s desk for signature. 

That may not happen now, because Shapiro “decided to betray the good faith agreement we reached,” GOP leadership said in a statement. “The General Appropriation bill is not the final step in the budget process. The Senate will continue to await legislative action by the House on the remaining budgetary components, to see what House Democrats, with the slimmest majority, are able to advance.” 

Shapiro had reiterated his support for school choice as recently as June 22. 

Acting state Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin wrote in a letter that Shapiro “favors adding choices for parents” and “funding lifeline scholarships, as long as those choices do not impact school district funding,” reported the Philadelphia Inquirer.  

In a September article, Penn Live highlighted the Shapiro campaign promise of school choice support with quotes from the governor’s own campaign website. 

“Josh favors adding choices for parents and educational opportunity for students and funding lifeline scholarships like those approved in other states and introduced in Pennsylvania,” the site read at the time. When a link to it is clicked now, the website currently proclaims “Page not Found.” 

Instead, an image of the governor’s dog, Bo, is shared on the site, with a pitch for a campaign donation:   

WELL, THIS IS AWKWARD. I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 

I blame Bo but, while you’re here, why not donate? 

It’s safe to say the GOP won’t be blaming Bo for the snafu, or for the governor’s broken campaign promise.