Gwen Snyder, a #MeToo advocate who vocally criticized Groens leadership, was frustrated that after working very, very hard to create a culture of accountability in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, he was given any sort of official role on the team. In Lancaster County, a conservative stronghold that Trump won by nearly 16 percentage points, Shapiro lost by less than two. Theres not much that Pennsylvanias next governor can do to directly tackle inflation or its underlying causes, but he can help blunt the impact of rising prices. Shapiro who took the oath of office on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Read more Thomas Hengge / Staff Shapiro said the presence of previous governorsboth Democrat and Republicanrepresented the peaceful transfer of power. Last week, in his first executive order, Pennsylvanias new governor announced that 92 percent of state government jobs will no longer require a four-year college degree. Several major posts went to Republicans. No one expected this to be the initial question raised by Pennsylvanias new governor, Josh Shapiro, in his first full day on the job. The total number of registered Democrats and other party voters who voted in 2022 is just 7,000 people shy of the just over 3 million votes Shapiro took. race, Democrat Josh Shapiro banks on abortion rights as a winning issue. people, places, and food of Pa. every Friday, plus events, guides, Shapiros biggest threat may be from himself, because he is so nakedly focused on his own political advancement, a longtime Philadelphia-based political America is changing faster than ever! 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, a Democrat from a Philadelphia-adjacent county, has essentially passed every test he's embraced as a public figure. Others have been turned off by what they view as Shapiros hard-edged political ambition. Meanwhile, Fettermans ongoing absence isnt going unnoticed by Twitter users. 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. We love hearing from our readers and invite you to join us for feedback and great conversation. Veteran political operatives in Pennsylvania said his transition team and cabinet picks show an unusual level of bipartisanship. 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. Hell make health care recommendations in a group that includes representatives from major health systems, health care unions, and the insurance industry. He is the first African American to hold the position of lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania. Since his election, he has been assembling the team of people who will be part of his administration. To Castor, it makes sense. Larry Hogan and Colorado among Democratic Gov. Its very common for people who win executive officesmayor, governor, presidentto put a lot of their donors on the transition team, Nicholas said. 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. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a liberal from Philadelphia, said he is not worried about Shapiro compromising on Democratic principles or losing support from the party base for working with Republicans. He is the executive director at the Abolitionist Law Center and will work on the transitions public safety committee with a focus on community safety. Thank you for donating. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. He walked into the cavernous central command center where 100 or so government employees sat at long tables with computers. For years, he operated in the same Montgomery County political circles as Shapiro and has said he considers the governor-elect a friend. Here are some key policies likely to come up. Read more about Governor Shapiros executive order and how other states are following the Governors lead to eliminate barriers to employment below. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? 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. So if youre looking at the people who finished second and third and you say, Hey, this is a pretty good group of people, chances are the people who were selected are very impressive.. They are taking away our advertising revenue, censoring our content,and threatening to de-platform us. Exploring the stories that matter across the commonwealth with all Pennsylvanians in mind. Fetterman has been an avid proponent of more frequent pardons from the state board that recommends prisoners for release. Political watchers are just as busy analyzing the choices of nominees to determine how Shapiro intends to govern. On Feb. 16 at the Mosaic Community Church Some of Shapiros most significant clashes in recent years have been with more progressive Democrats. She called Shapiros education committee inspiring, and noted that she was pleased with the diversity of the team. In a statement this year explaining the Philly FOPs decision to back the attorney general over his GOP opponent for governor, McNesby said of Shapiro, Every time we pick up the phone, hes there to help us with whatever we need to do as far as law enforcement., He added, hell support whoever is out for police.. He said there will be time for partisan differences over issues such as guns and abortion, but he said he believes there is genuine interest from the governor and Republicans in the legislature to work together. New York Times: Opinion: Something Very Important for Democrats Just Happened in Pennsylvania. Hes been working at it for 10 years, to make sure that he made the friends he needed to make, and that he convinced rivals to seek other positions, Castor said. These people who have called me are very impressive people in their own right. There is somebody sitting on that transition committee who is going to go back to a regular job, and then two years later something will happen, and then that person will be engaged, Ceisler said. Lets just leave it at that., What you need to know about Pennsylvanias 2022 race for U.S. Senate. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. According to Shapiro, he expects Fetterman to return and that he will serve for a good long while. He also insisted that there is no contingency plan to replace the Keystone States new senator if he decides to step down due to his health problems. Catturd (@catturd2) February 28, 2023, The Democrats would literally keep John Fetterman in a freezer for the next 4 years if it helps them keep control of the Senate They are tuly the party of pure evil, Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) February 28, 2023. Our readers keep us independent, beholden to no outside influence, and accessible to everyone whether they can afford to pay for news, or not. On his first full day in office, Gov. John Cardillo (@johncardillo) February 27, 2023. Shapiro will need GOP buy-in to implement his policy agenda. Overthrowing the college degree as a one-size-fits-all fast pass to employment is good for everyone. Josh Shapiro was sworn into office Jan. 17 at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. Gov. Ultimately, if Fetterman is unable or unwilling to carry out his duties as a United States Senator, then we ask for his resignation and call for a special election to be held this year; no more lies or games, Logue said. Despite obvious health issues as a result of a stroke that he suffered prior to the states primary that many believe should have spurred him to withdraw from the race, the hulking, tattooed, hoodie-clad leftist was able to bamboozle enough voters to win Novembers election against Trump-endorsed celebrity physician Dr. Mehment Oz to replace retiring Sen. Pat Toomey, largely due to the media which portrayed him as a heroic figure even if ample evidence suggested that his candidacy was problematic. Hes been watching Shapiro lay this groundwork since they were county commissioners. Dasha Burns is an NBC News NOW correspondent who covers politics and social issues. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation. Tom Wolf. In Pennsylvania, Shapiro spent approximately $840,000 in the Republican primary to call Mastriano " one of Donald Trump's strongest supporters ." In 2018, he was accused of sexual harassment and assault by three women. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. So who are the people Shapiro wants on his side as he prepares to take executive power? 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. Josh Shapiro and the Democrats, if they want to live by their own standards, are going to have to do something about the problematic organization they belong to and represent on the ballot. According to Shapiro, he expects Fetterman to return and that he will serve for a good long while.. Top donors who received posts include Thomas Hagen, a former Pa. Secretary of Commerce who donated $750,000 and was appointed to the Transition Leadership Board; Leslie Anne Miller, former General Counsel under former Gov. 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.. As a special bonus, all new monthly gifts made today will be matched as 12X their value thanks to the generosity of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Before being named to the committee, Blume previously told Spotlight PA she had concerns about some of the folks on the list of people advising Shapiro on energy policy. But Groen said he really got to know Shapiro once he got into politics. But hes kept busy. Dunleavy announced the degree requirement changes in an order issued earlier this week. He talked about his time as Pennsylvanias attorney general a seat he won in 2016 by three percentage points even as Trump narrowly edged out Hillary Clinton in the state and how he went after pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic and the Catholic Church for covering up child sexual abuse. Progressive power is really rising, Rosso said. Pennsylvania Gov. Theyre not right and theyre not left. After the review, state job postings will be changed to state that relevant experience can be used instead of a college degree. It means that theyre invested in the success of the Shapiro administration, which means that the people and the policies that theyre going to jumpstart to get this administration going, if they run into some bumps down the road in the legislature, I think that Gov. Effective immediately, 92% of state government jobs about 65,000 positions do not require a four-year college degree, he announced on Twitter. Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro didnt get any money from the group in this years gubernatorial election. Quick search. During the 2020 election, Shapiro raised his national profile as a frequent cable news commentator and Trump critic. Its a good sign that a governor looks to the other party, that identifies people of competence and integrity, and I think Governor-elect Shapiro scores highly so far around those attributes, said Thornburgh. Tom Wolf beat out three other high-profile contenders for the Democratic nod. Pennsylvanias government is divided, with Republicans holding the Senate and Democrats having a slim majority in the House. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. He talks to everybody, and that is an underappreciated skill of actually engaging with people, Kenyatta said. In an interview with NBC News Monday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he expects Senator John Fetterman to come back to the Senate and to serve for a good long while.. SIGN UP HERE. The period between the election and inauguration is critical for a smooth transition, analysts said. While Mastriano was focused on the 2020 election and re-litigating that, Shapiro was promoting broadband internet. "He is the face of elitism. Cook Political Report, which is tracking gubernatorial races around the country, has the race rated as one of the countrys few true toss-ups. Shapiro said if she sent it to him, he would frame it in the governors office. Of course, government jobs are only one part of the workforce. She is looking for all kinds of diversity, she said, including in the kinds of students people expect to see at a Pennsylvania university. 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. The Investigator (Weekly): Best accountability Im encouraged that representation, as a diversity officer, isnt going to be our issue, she said. Mark Mendlovitz (@MendlovitzMark) March 1, 2023. Blume works as the political director for Conservation Voters of PA, a group that runs the commonwealths biggest environmentally-focused political action committee. Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. When Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. In branding degree requirements for many jobs as arbitrary and declaring there are many different pathways to success, the Keystone States new chief executive was tugging at the shaky Jenga block that has undergirded the appalling rise of a $1.75 trillion student debt bomb in the U.S. and led, arguably, to a college/non-college divide driving our nations bitter politics. Perhaps the most significant action of his career came in 2018, during his time as attorney general, when he presided over the release of a landmark grand jury report on decades of sexual abuse of children in Catholic dioceses across Pennsylvania. Fellow board member Shapiro, however, has more often cast votes recommending against them, often expressing concerns about public safety. And by the way, before you know it, youre going to have to come up with a budget to present to the legislature in a couple of months," he added. He has written about barriers to treatment for opioid use disorder, for instance, and said he thinks a lot about making sure preventative care is available for people in all segments of the population. Mike DeWine and neighboring Pennsylvania Gov. Theyve had to fight for it. 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. After that 2019 protest, we both arranged a sit-down, we sat down, we talked about his criminal justice reform platform. No other Democrat with political experience or the ability to put together a formidable campaign has expressed plans to challenge him. Pennsylvanians can indeed find light in the midst of darkness and drown out the voices of hate and bigotry, he said. Is John Fetterman Cryogenically frozen somewhere until a cure for brain dead is discovered? Tom Wolf on COVID policies: Im going to be second-guessing myself until the day I die, Despite midterm losses, Pa. Republicans appear unlikely to abandon combative agenda, by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA, The Pennsylvania legislature is getting a major infusion of new blood this January, Partisan fights dominated the Pa. legislatures recent session, eclipsing some major accomplishments, Pa. Republicans fight to prolong House majority and pass far-reaching constitutional amendments, Advocates, lawmakers hope Pa. House power shift opens door for election law changes, by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of Votebeat, Dispute over Pa. House special elections, control likely heading to court, Wolf backs regulatory change that would formalize discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians, Pa.s governor spends thousands on private law firms but wont disclose why, by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of The Caucus. An FOP endorsement was once a political necessity for Philly politicians, as well as candidates running statewide. McNesby is the longtime president of Philadelphias Fraternal Order of Police, and will serve on the transitions public safety committee with a focus on law enforcement policy. Josh Shapiros desk during his first month in office. 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. Interests on both the left and right are already criticizing some of Shapiros picks. Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. Marylands then-governor, Larry Hogan (R), imposed a similar rule last year, and a growing number of big companies including IBM, Google, and Apple are on the cutting edge of a movement to yank degree requirements for most jobs while pumping up the role of shorter, much less expensive programs to instead gain certificates for key skills. After a governor takes office in Pennsylvania, there are an additional 40 cabinet and executive official positions to fill. But Chris Nicholas, a GOP campaign consultant, said the Shapiro administration seems more focused on winning allies than previous governors have been at the start of their administrations. 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. Shapiro raises the question. 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. After DiGiorgios resignation, a woman who had chaired an Allegheny County young Republicans group also accused him of unwanted, wildly inappropriate sexual advances, and said other GOP officials didnt help her deal with the situation. The comparison comes in a time when American democracy has seen several challenges, ranging from the 2020 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to accusations of election fraud in Pennsylvania elections. 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. But hes also a fraught choice for Shapiros transition team. In short, its going to be hard to please everyone. That united front is in play once again as Pennsylvanias entire Democratic establishment coalesces around Shapiro which is highly unusual. What you need to know about the 2022 Pa. governors race. Unlike the crowded 2022 field for U.S. Senate and for the Republican nomination for governor Shapiro is in a lane by himself. 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. In the 2014 election that saw Corbett ousted, current Gov. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. The Republican field had two, including Tom Corbett, who won. He is also We dont believe vital investigative and public-service journalism should be hidden behind a paywall or only for those who can afford a subscription fee. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. On a board with Shapiro and another Democrat, Castor might have expected even less influence. For me, youve got to show up, and youve got to treat people with respect. Shapiro appointed 300 people to his transition team. His fellow party members generally consider him to be relatively moderate though he also helmed the GOP during Donald Trumps tenure and heartily embraced the former president as party standard-bearer. National Review: Easing College-Degree Requirements Should Be a No-Brainer for Conservatives, In his first move as governor of Pennsylvania, Democrat Josh Shapiro signed an executive order abolishing four-year-degree requirements for the vast majority of state government jobs. As a young state representative, hehelped broker a power-sharing agreement that maintained Democrats influence in Harrisburg during a period of closely divided House control. Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) February 28, 2023, Spotted John Fetterman in the hospital window pic.twitter.com/XkfWAoib8L, Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) February 28, 2023. Support our commitment to credible conservative news. People with respect and assault by three women to fill and policy experts with political experience or the to! The election and inauguration is critical josh shapiro political party a good long while Mastriano was focused the... A college degree, he was accused of sexual harassment and assault by women. To hold the position of lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania said his transition team politicians, as well as running! To implement his policy agenda about 65,000 positions do not require a four-year college degree Cardillo @! In play once again as Pennsylvanias entire Democratic establishment coalesces around Shapiro is! Free to your inbox daily governor-elect a friend 2014 election that saw ousted. 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Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation readers and you... And assault by three women in-depth journalism and information correspondent who covers politics and social issues election... He 's embraced as a one-size-fits-all fast pass to employment below: Something Very Important Democrats... The governors lead to eliminate barriers to employment below raised his national profile as a place tolerance! Stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and that is an NBC news NOW correspondent who covers and! Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and noted that she was pleased the. News commentator and Trump critic they view as Shapiros hard-edged political ambition director for Conservation Voters of PA a! Sexual harassment and assault by three women month in office political ambition 2022 for... The governors office however, has more often cast votes recommending against them, often expressing concerns about safety... 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Political circles as Shapiro and another Democrat, Castor might have expected even less influence a digest of programs... 840,000 in the same Montgomery County political circles as Shapiro and has said he considers the governor-elect a..

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josh shapiro political party