Global Courant
Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro took an unexpected step Wednesday when he gave in to partisan squabbles in the state legislature over school choice funding to appease members of his own party who prevented the passage of a state budget.
“Last Friday, the Senate approved a responsible budget that provides critical funding for our shared priorities and sent it to the House for consideration. Now we are largely deadlocked on one provision of this budget, PASS Scholarships, a proposal I support which has been passed by the Senate, but which Leader (Matthew) Bradford has made clear does not have the support of the House,” Shapiro said in a statement.
“I will veto the entire $100 million grant and it will not be part of this budget bill,” Shapiro added, referring to the Scholarship and Service Advancing Program, or PASS Scholarships, included in the budget approved by the Republicans. controlled state Senate on Friday.
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR SHAPIRO DEFENDS SCHOOL CHOICE: ‘EVERY CHILD OF GOD’ DESERVES ‘QUALITY EDUCATION’
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is seen celebrating the freedom ceremony at Wawa Welcome America on July 4, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images)
A proponent of funding and increasing school choice for Pennsylvanians, Shapiro struck a deal with Republicans on what would become the state’s first-ever “voucher” program for private and religious schools, insisting on putting $100 million into it in the budget.
His move surprised state lawmakers and created tensions within the Democratic Party that led to state House Democrats demanding $750 million more for support for public schools that Senate Republicans had not agreed to. State House Democrats last week voted against separate legislation to create the voucher program.
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE DEMOCRATS SEEK RESPONSE TO BUDGET AGREEMENT OBJECTIONS AT STATE CAPITOL
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will meet at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The program has also been opposed by teachers’ unions and school boards, traditional Democratic allies.
“While I am disappointed that the two sides could not come together, Leader Bradford has given me his word…that he will carefully review additional education options, including PASS, Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), and Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). as we work on our public education needs in light of the recent Commonwealth Court education ruling,” Shapiro added in his statement.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is on display December 14, 2020 in Harrisburg. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.
