Gov. Josh Shapiro, a religious Jew who uses his faith as part of his political identity, is rejecting that principle. He appointed former GOP state representative Mike Vereb, who was the first Pennsylvania legislator to endorse Donald Trump in 2016, as his secretary of legislative affairs, making the Republican his conduit between the governors office and the General Assembly. BizPac Review is under attack by progressive Silicon Valley zealots. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Candidly, I think Josh Shapiro has his eyes set on, you know, potentially something else, so I think hes motivated at this particular juncture to demonstrate bipartisanship, he said. top news from across PA, plus some fun, too. You inherited the work of those who came before you, you served with honor, and you are leaving us in a better place than when you started. From giant corporations to predatory hedge funds, a small number of billionaire owners have a powerful hold on so much of the information that reaches the public about whats happening here. Please give today. Youve got to see them for the valuable individuals that they are. When Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. After the review, state job postings will be changed to state that relevant experience can be used instead of a college degree. Its not an economic perspective, necessarily, said Groen, the former Pennsylvania Democratic Party chair, of Shapiros moderate outlook. Shapiro swore the oath of office on three bibles, one of which survived the 2018 fatal shooting rampage in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. SIGN UP HERE. Some high-profile Democrats, like Lt. Gov. He is the first African American to hold the position of lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Josh Shapiro and Wes Moore Are Ready To Step Up The inaugurations in Pennsylvania and Maryland this month introduced Democrats to their future. These issues below are sorted in descending order based on how important the average American voter ranked them on the quiz. Especially in tighter economic times, people should not be forced to choose between the essentials, and essential news. Read more Thomas Hengge / Staff Doug Mastriano spent 30 years in the U.S. Army serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan. He emerged unscathed from the Consensus means competing interests must come together, so some friction is expected. I believe Josh has done a very good job as AG, Hoeffel said in a text message. Following Gov. Today, too many Americans feel compelled to pursue a college degree, whether they want to or not. But Greenberg has a long relationship with Shapiro. Example video title will go here for this video. Hes going to get the help that he needs and do a great job for the people of Pennsylvania as their senator for a long time, Shapiro said in a previous interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, adding that he hadnt faced pressure from establishment Democrats to compel Fetterman to resign. But Jeff Eggleston, the rural caucus chair for the Pennsylvania Democrats, said Shapiros win was not just a reflection of a bad opponent though it was undeniably a significant factor in his double-digit victory but a concerted effort by Shapiros campaign to reach voters in areas Democrats rarely go. Near-daily press releases announced the latest people named to cabinet and executive positions in the administration. PA Local (Weekly): A fresh look at the incredible WebThe "PACs" category has been renamed to "Committees," because the term "Political Action Committee" is not used in every state. Shell serve on the transitions education and workforce committee, with a focus on higher education. Who the students are in the commonwealth is changing, and its not a one size fits all.. Cook Political Report, which is tracking Senate races around the country, says the outcome in Pennsylvania is genuinely unpredictable but critically important. For me, youve got to show up, and youve got to treat people with respect. That a Democrat followed suit in Pennsylvania a much bigger political stage, with a much larger population matters. The team of nearly 300 people includes lobbyists, activists, attorneys, executives, and former elected officials, and not all are obvious choices for a Democratic administration. For years, he operated in the same Montgomery County political circles as Shapiro and has said he considers the governor-elect a friend. There were plenty of times where we just plain didnt do anything if we didnt all agree on it.. Christopher Baxter WHILE YOURE HERE… If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Millions of young Americans may not know the term credentialism, but the concept is baked into their brain, from their teen SAT prep classes to get into the right school, to their monthly debt payments that can drag onto into middle age and well beyond. Competitive primaries are common, particularly when theres no incumbent. On his first full day in office, Gov. As a member of the Republican Party, he can count himself the political heir But its also due to a misguided, and often toxic, cultural and political trend toward viewing college degrees as a prerequisite for participation in American public life. Hes also been endorsed by a But hes better known in Pennsylvania politics as a former leader of the state Republican Party. Josh Shapiro nominated for his cabinet? The growth in the share of U.S. jobs that require a four-year college degree is partially owing to a broader shift away from physical-labor-based industries and toward information and knowledge economies. Groen took over as state Democratic party chair in 2015 but resigned after three years amid allegations he had ignored sexual harassment allegations. The bill calls for the state Department of Administrative Services to try to reduce training, experience and educational requirements for jobs and reduce jobs that require a four-year college degree. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) On Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, a new Pennsylvania governor will be sworn-in in Harrisburg. Dunleavy announced the degree requirement changes in an order issued earlier this week. WHYY + Billy Penn host 100th Mayor: Restoring Safety Forum | Watch live, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro arrives at a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. He had been courted by national Democrats over the years to run for the House or Senate, but he declined every time, choosing instead to chart a path that led him to the governorship and will, his supporters say, position him to run for president one day. But in recent years, the role of the union which represents 14,000 active and retired police officers has become more fraught. In the 2014 election that saw Corbett ousted, current Gov. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at But I also believe that this particular credential has become too divisive an emblem in our culture wars, too bold a fault line. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke). When he first ran for attorney general in 2016, Students First a PAC associated with Yass, Greenberg, and other Susquehanna executives gave him $125,000. McNesby declined to comment on his work with the transition team. Josh Shapiro was sworn into office Jan. 17 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. This article and all of our journalism are available to you at no cost thanks to our supporters. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro arrives at a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro heads to Pittsburgh Wednesday to formally announce hes seeking the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania governor. Its not a surprise. Just this month, Shapiro took on another high-profile, highly political case, announcing 48 criminal charges against Energy Transfer. In 2016, with then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane under indictment and the office in disarray, Shapiro won that statewide position on a promise to restore order. Shapiro said the presence of previous governorsboth Democrat and Republicanrepresented the peaceful transfer of power. Priorities for Pennsylvania Democrats in the 2010s and 2020s have been advocacy for Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the Democratic nominee, is a first-class fundraiser with a record of winning tough statewide races. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro heads to Pittsburgh Wednesday to formally announce hes seeking the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania governor. Now is the time. Your support enables us to continue to produce tough, unique reporting you wont find anywhere else. Before you move on, I was hoping you would consider taking the step of supporting Spotlight PAs journalism either one time, or with a monthly gift. The new governor believes he can garner bipartisan support on issues such as taxes, energy, education and law enforcement, where he has indicated an openness on traditionally Republican priorities, including cutting taxes for businesses and individuals, fracking, school choice and more police. Susquehanna is known for its secrecy, for an early bet on TikTok that paid enormous dividends, and for its founders ability to pay unusually low federal income tax rates. Pennsylvania government should be a place where every single person has the opportunity to serve and to succeed, Davis said. Hell work alongside a number of other law enforcement officers, though others on Shapiros public safety advisory committee have extremely different philosophies when it comes to criminal justice. His first executive The rise in telehealth during COVID-19 is a good example he said its made it easier for some of his patients to make appointments, and hed like to see it strengthened. At least a dozen state troopers stood together in the back of the room. He talked about job opportunities for people without a college degree. Famous performersall from Pennsylvaniainclude Wiz Khalifa, Smokey Robinson and Mt. Its a vision for the Democratic party that resonates with Groen, but one that has begun to feel increasingly like a throwback in Pennsylvania. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. The festivities are set to continue at the Inaugural Celebration happening tonight at Rock Lititz. The room was quiet, the reaction muted as the new governor delivered brief remarks. After eight years of Tom Wolf, Josh Shapiro will become Pennsylvanias 48 The inaugural address touched on some of Shapiros stated priorities, like abortion rights, freedom of religion and fighting hatred and extremism. Among technocrats on both the center-right and center-left, theres often a flawed assumption that a central goal of U.S. education policy should be to get as many young Americans as possible into four-year programs, rather than to open up other pathways and models for success. Those themes resonate with voters no matter where they live, Eggleston said. Jared Polis. The order directs Alaskas Department of Administration to review state job descriptions and determine where practical experience could be used in lieu of the four-year college degree requirement typically asked of applicants. Hes based in Philadelphia and will serve on the transitions health and human services committee, with a focus on health care. With questions swirling about Senator John Fettermans political future after the newly elected lawmaker was hospitalized for depression last month, Pennsylvanias Democrat governor said that there are no plans to replace him despite ongoing concerns over his fitness for the stressful position that he now holds. During the 2020 election, Shapiro raised his national profile as a frequent cable news commentator and Trump critic. Lets just leave it at that., What you need to know about Pennsylvanias 2022 race for U.S. Senate. On Feb. 16 at the Mosaic Community Church in West Philadelphia, the longtime Montgomery County resident announced that he would not sign any execution warrants during his term. But hes kept busy. Shapiro has since committed to lots of the law centers priorities, including ending mandatory life-without-parole sentences for second-degree murder, opposing new mandatory minimum sentences, and maintaining a death penalty moratorium. Thats very well said. Shapiros announcement, other states announced they would be taking action to eliminate college degree requirements for state jobs. Experts call it credentialism a trend that began around the 1970s and kept accelerating for company job recruiters to require a bachelors degree even for jobs (from IT specialist to, yes, newspaper reporter) that may not really need one. But it recognized, too, ways in which the Democratic Party is vulnerable, and it sent an important message to voters who feel that the party doesnt see or have much regard for them. In Pennsylvania, Shapiro spent approximately $840,000 in the Republican primary to call Mastriano " one of Donald Trump's strongest supporters ." Shapiro who took the oath of office on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Thats not what Im talking about, Groen said. You have to be thinking a lot about equity, both along race and ethnicity lines, but then also thinking about equity in terms of class, socioeconomic lines, Gupta said. Exploring the stories that matter across the commonwealth with all Pennsylvanians in mind. Quick search. The Democratic Partys endorsed candidate for governor of Pennsylvania, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, headed into 2022 with $13.4 million in his campaign account. The governors had met earlier in the morning for a breakfast with Shapiro. On a more fundamental level, it eliminates a basic unfairness that has led to a two-tiered class system. Pa. election 2022: Where governor candidates Mastriano, Shapiro stand on the gas tax, business regulations, and property taxes. So who are the people Shapiro wants on his side as he prepares to take executive power? Whether he can translate that outreach into policy and political capital remains to be seen. He spoke about patriotism and freedom. John Fetterman, a sitting United States Senator has not been seen or heard from in nearly two weeks but the trash corporate media refuses to ask one question. Larry Hogan and Colorado among Democratic Gov. Pennsylvania Gov. Governor Shapiro was one of the first governors to take action to remove degree requirements, joining the governors of Maryland, Colorado, and Utah, who have implemented similar policies. Shapiro, who built a broad coalition in the election to beat Republican challenger Doug Mastriano by a sizable margin, will have to walk a fine line. Shapiro would be charged with naming an interim replacement should there be a vacancy and there would then be a special election in November 2024 to fill the rest of the term a scenario that would put both of the states Senate seats on the ballot next year. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. One employee, Lisa, who declined to give her last name, had sat stone-faced during his remarks, but when he came down her row, she joined others in a group selfie with Shapiro. Groen isnt a neutral observer. There are, for instance, policing advocates who want more aggressive law enforcement, people seen as hostile to public education, and a number of prominent Republicans. In the United States today, there is a massive swath of middle-management, white-collar jobs with unnecessary degree requirements. Shapiro became the 48th governor of Pennsylvania. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation. Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In his first executive order, Shapiro removes degree requirement for thousands of state jobs. The Pennsylvania governor tells NBC News he expects fellow Democrat John Fetterman to serve in Senate for "good long while. The free Keystone Crossroads newsletter delivers the most important Pennsylvania stories to your inbox every week. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Please help us! He worked closely with the younger Shapiro as the Democrat rose through the political ranks, from Montgomery County state representative, to county commissioner, to attorney general. Shapiros first big political job came in the late 90s, when he became chief of staff the youngest chief of staff on Capitol Hill to then-U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, a Democrat. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. Schmidt is well respected in political circles as someone who is battle-tested from defending the citys election integrity against attacks by former President Donald Trump. Guptas research primarily focuses on access and affordability, he said. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies. At least 30 people on the transition team personally donated a total of at least $2.5 million to Shapiros campaign. Shapiro who took the oath of office on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Pennsylvanians rely on him to be a check and a balance to the states elected officials, especially when potential patterns of corruption, unconstitutional governance and criminality are raised. HARRISBURG, Pa. Gov. He also insisted that there is no contingency plan to replace the Governor-elects typically assemble a transition team of people who will help set policy agendas based on the administrations goals. On Feb. 16 at the Mosaic Community Church The reason [Shapiro] heard us is because we had the political power to impact him, he said. Pa. election 2022: Where governor candidates Mastriano, Shapiro stand on the opioid epidemic, medical marijuana, and other health issues. PLEASE JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! Larry Ceisler, a public affairs executive, said the range of political persuasions reflected in the group is intentional, and that its useful to have influential people who are invested in the administrations success on both sides of the aisle. Shapiro will be able to call on these people to assist, Ceisler said. Thats where I think hes going to have a lot of strength and be able to put things together, said Larry Ceisler, a prominent Pennsylvania Democratic public affairs executive. Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro would be tasked with selecting someone to fill Fetterman's seat in the event of his resignation but Shapiro told The Washington County, Pa. Republican party has called on Fetterman to resign and for a special election to be held to replace him later this year. A South Philly native, DiGiorgio helmed the state GOP from 2017 to 2019, working to improve the partys waning prospects in the southeast. Its an easy payback. 2023Spotlight PA228 Walnut St., #11728Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728. Success! His first executive order, which eliminates a four-year college-degree requirement for thousands of state government jobs, was praised by conservative media. That united front is in play once again as Pennsylvanias entire Democratic establishment coalesces around Shapiro which is highly unusual. HARRISBURG, Pa. Governor-elect Josh Shapiros office has been busy assembling the team of people who will comprise his administration when he is sworn into office on Jan. 17. Nicholas isnt working for any of the GOP gubernatorial candidates there are currently around 10 and acknowledges that Shapiros freedom from a hard primary coupled with his fundraising power, will put him in an enviable position come the general election. There is no contingency plan and it is 100% Senator Fettermans decision as to what he will do in the future, the governor told NBCs Dasha Burns. Copyright 2023 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ensuring that affordability is not a barrier, Keye said, is a crucial part of her day job and her role on the transition committee. Shapiro raises the question. Filters. Spotlight PA relies on funding from Governor Shapiro believes everyone in Pennsylvania deserves a fair shot, and that government should serve the people thats why during his first month in office, he also took action to improve the Commonwealths licensing and permitting processes and to make it easier for workers and businesses to apply online. Political watchers are just as busy analyzing the choices of nominees to determine how Shapiro intends to govern. While he may not have stated it explicitly, this was the essence of the Democrats very first executive order, which opened up some 92% of job listings in state government about 65,000 in all to applicants who dont have a four-year college degree. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. Governor Josh Shapiro is a Pennsylvania Democrat. But there are also prison abolitionists, public education activists, patient advocates, and progressive labor organizers. Everyone deserves access to the facts. College can be a very good thing. What you need to know about the 2022 Pa. governors race. Pennsylvania state Rep. Joanna McClinton (D) was set to become the first woman to lead the state House after Democrats claimed control. It's been a prolific political career thus far for Pennsylvania's new governor. A Georgia Senate committee is advancing a bill that would instruct an agency to examine qualifications for state government jobs and not require a college degree unless truly necessary. Its a reaction to difficulties in attracting workers in a tight labor market, the high cost of college, and Republican distrust of the ideological effects of college education. In Pennsylvania, the people should decide what path is best for them, not have it decided by some arbitrary requirement or any arbitrary limitation, Shapiro said during a public signing ceremony on Wednesday. Interests on both the left and right are already criticizing some of Shapiros picks. DiGiorgio didnt respond to a request for comment. journalism every Thursday, plus a weekly riddle. On his first full day in office, Gov. Josh Shapiro won Beaver, Berks, Cumberland, and Luzerne counties significantly outperforming Joe Bidens margins in 2020 and flipping those counties blue, In short, its going to be hard to please everyone. Sometimes things are not ideological. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The Philly FOP has consistently endorsed Shapiro since his first bid for statewide office in 2016. Georgia would be one of a number of states to make the move. His office declined to comment on Shapiros gubernatorial bid. Its not a surprise. Hes viewed as someone driven less by ideology than by a desire for unanimity. Our goal in this transition committee is to hold him accountable to the criminal justice platform that he put out, that we helped contribute to, and help him in implementing it, Holbrook said. And there were areas that he agreed with us on, and there were areas where he disagreed with us.. Sign up for PA Post and get a free daily email with HARRISBURG The transition team helping governor-elect Josh Shapiro prepare for office is wide-ranging and, in some cases, controversial, offering a glimpse into the way he hopes to govern the commonwealth and court members of the GOP in the legislature. But a 2017 Harvard Business School study, which examined more than 26 million job postings, reported that employers were increasingly inflating the educational requirements for jobs usually held by high school grads and in many cases, qualified candidates never even got the chance to apply for a position. In total, according to the study, as many as 6.2 million workers could be affected by the practice of degree inflation.. Youve been reading our work. Josh Shapiro's transition team features Republicans and those pushing policies at odds with the Democratic agenda, and that's all part of his strategy. Doug Mastriano spent 30 years in the U.S. Army serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan. It gives states access to a broader pool of candidates, including those with practical experience or those who couldnt afford to go to college, while giving would-be students more freedom to decide whether to pursue a degree. As an independent and elected attorney general, Shapiro is sworn to be a law enforcement officer first and politician second. WebJosh David Shapiro: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Shapiro said if she sent it to him, he would frame it in the governors office. Fellow board member Shapiro, however, has more often cast votes recommending against them, often expressing concerns about public safety. Hes the consensus without even having to have a conversation, said Marcel Groen, former chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and a longtime fixture in the Democratic politics of Montgomery County, where Shapiro grew up. Some of Shapiros most significant clashes in recent years have been with more progressive Democrats. On Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro sat down with NBC News for an interview during which he sought to allay concerns over Fettermans deteriorating health and dismissed the possibility of a special election to allow Pennsylvanians to rectify their mistake in sending a mentally incapacitated man to Washington D.C. as their representative for the next six years. Josh Shapiros desk during his first month in office. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor, focused their 2022 efforts on the U.S. Senate, the release of a landmark grand jury report, Trumps family border separation policy, election-time changes to post office operations, 48 criminal charges against Energy Transfer, often expressing concerns about public safety, gave Shapiro more control over prosecuting, ultimately distanced himself from the bill, one of the lead attorneys who defended Donald Trump. One of those people is Holbrook. Here are our takeaways. Where we used to mandate a college degree for almost everything, now were looking at that differently, either through technical school or certifications, Albers said. Its also known for its deep-pocketed ties to the movement to fund alternatives to public schools. As expected for a Democratic governor, the majority of the transition team and cabinet posts went to Democrats. On his first full day in office, Gov. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Public feuds were common. These people who have called me are very impressive people in their own right. Krasner has a more aggressively anti-mass-incarceration approach to criminal justice than Shapiro, and the two tangled publicly over a bill that gave Shapiro more control over prosecuting Philly gun crimes. Spotlight PA is different. All Rights Reserved. According to the executive order, state government job postings will begin with equivalent experience needed in lieu of a college degree whenever possible.. One of them is Bruce Castor, who served as Montgomery County Commissioner alongside Shapiro for four years. Veteran political operatives in Pennsylvania said his transition team and cabinet picks show an unusual level of bipartisanship. Philadelphia Inquirer: Opinion: What is college for? A continuously updated summary of the news stories that US political commentators are discussing online right now. Elections Summary Voter Registration & Polling Place Ballot Measures Issues Public Statements Political Parties Election Contacts Political Courage Test For Candidates. The last bible was a personal family bible on which Shapiro has been sworn in for every public office he has held since 2005. Spotlight PA takes a look at eight members of the transition team, what they tell us about the governor-elects policy plans, and what they may want from him in return. One of Blumes critiques of outgoing governor Tom Wolf was that though she often agreed with his priorities he tended to decide first, then go to people., Shapiro, she said, is more collaborative.. Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. The White House has previously noted that included teams from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who were coordinating with local agencies and first responders and that the president was in communication with Ohio Gov. He has deep connections to Shapiro, having known the incoming governor since Shapiro was a child, when Groen and Shapiros father attended the same synagogue. Additionally, only 31% of those Democrats and 17% of other voters also voted by mail compared to just about 8% of Republicans who voted in 2022. Greenberg, who made billions in his trading career, retired from Susquehanna in 2016, but before that, he was involved in Yasss political giving along with their third co-founder, Arthur Dantchik. For that reason among others, Im impressed and excited by what Josh Shapiro, the newly installed Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, just did.