Even as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is strutting his stuff at the Democratic National Convention convention in Chicago, a conservative think tank from his home state is running a negative ad in the Chicago Tribune.
Shapiro, who was on the shortlist to become Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, has been glad-handing his fellow Democrats in the Windy City, giving speeches and news interviews.
The Commonwealth Foundation ad says despite Shapiro’s slogan that he “Gets S**t Done,” he has enacted the fewest laws of any governor with a divided government. It blames his inability to get the Democratic-controlled House to go along with his legislative proposals, “making him the least productive governor of the Keystone State in at least 50 years.”
The ad lists the other governors with divided legislatures, starting with Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Va.) who passed 1,654 laws, all the way down to Shapiro at 111. It ends with: “Learn more: ShapiroRecord.com.”
“Gov. Shapiro had his moment in the spotlight,” said Erik Telford, Commonwealth Foundation senior vice president. “Now it’s time for him to come home and deliver on the promises he made to Pennsylvanians.”
Shapiro’s failure to unite lawmakers behind immensely popular policies and deliver on his campaign promises has tarnished his reputation in Pennsylvania and on the national stage,” Telford said.
“It’s time for Shapiro to focus on his job as governor, learn to work with the legislature, and follow through on the commitments he made to cut red tape, reduce taxes, and save kids in failing schools,” Telford said.
Commonwealth is a strong proponent of school choice. When he was running for election as governor, Shapiro promised to provide Lifeline Scholarships to disadvantaged kids in failing public schools. But House Democrats, many relying on significant campaign financing from the teachers’ unions, balked. Now, with two budget cycles under his belt, Shapiro has failed to pass the program.
Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. However, he previously told DVJournal, “Gov. Shapiro has been delivering for Pennsylvanians on the issues that matter most – growing our economy, investing in education, supporting law enforcement, and protecting freedom.
“In the meantime, the Commonwealth Foundation appears to have taken a break from their hobby of peddling an extreme political agenda to focus on their new passion: graphic design. It’s good to see they are equally bad at both,” Bonder said.
The Commonwealth Foundation’s Shapiro ad also ran in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention and The Washington Post on July 21.
But the biggest controversy dogging Shapiro is the lingering belief that antisemitism among his fellow Democrats kept Vice President Kamala Harris from picking him as her nominee. He pushed back on that premise at a breakfast event with the Pennsylvania delegation Monday.
“She was very clear about what she wanted. I think Tim fits that really well,” Shapiro told reporters about Harris’ pick, adding: “Now, let me also be very clear here, antisemitism played absolutely no role in my dialogue with the vice president. Absolutely not.”
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