Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro just proved every conservative right by abandoning school choice the moment teachers unions started throwing their weight around.
At a Glance
- Governor Shapiro campaigned on Lifeline Scholarships to help low-income students escape failing public schools
- Despite Republican support in the state Senate, Shapiro failed to push the legislation through the Democratic House
- Twenty-eight education advocacy organizations (read: teachers unions) opposed Shapiro as VP for Harris due to his previous school choice support
- Critics believe Shapiro abandoned school choice to further his political ambitions, including a potential 2028 presidential run
- Instead of fighting for scholarships, Shapiro proposed an additional $526 million for the same failing public school system
Another Democrat’s Broken Promises
Remember when politicians actually kept their campaign promises? Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro certainly doesn’t. After campaigning on support for Lifeline Scholarships that would provide $5,000 to $10,000 for low-income children trapped in failing public schools to attend private schools, Shapiro has conveniently forgotten all about it. The proposed program would have been a lifeline indeed for countless Pennsylvania families desperate for educational alternatives, but apparently, their needs aren’t as important as Shapiro’s political future.
What’s particularly frustrating is that the program had robust support in the Republican-controlled state Senate. All it needed was a governor willing to put some political capital behind it and push the Democratic House to take action. Instead, Shapiro has been conspicuously silent on what he once called “unfinished business” for 2024. Meanwhile, he had no trouble proposing an additional $526 million in February for the same failing public schools that are driving families to seek alternatives in the first place.
Teachers Unions Show Who’s Really in Charge
The real story here isn’t just about a politician breaking promises – it’s about who’s actually pulling the strings in the Democratic Party. Twenty-eight self-described “public education advocacy organizations” (which we all know means teachers unions and their allies) sent a letter to Kamala Harris arguing that Shapiro’s previous support for school choice should disqualify him from being her running mate. Imagine that – supporting educational freedom for disadvantaged children is now considered a disqualifying offense in today’s Democratic Party.
“It is our fervent hope that your running mate will reflect your strong history of supporting educators and students, and commitment to building the middle class which will require strong public schools across our nation. For this reason, we respectfully ask you not to select Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.” – Twenty-eight self-described ‘public education advocacy organizations’.
These organizations went so far as to claim Shapiro’s previous support for school choice resembled “education policies mirroring Project 2025” – because apparently wanting poor kids to have educational options is now equivalent to some kind of far-right conspiracy. The message was clear: fall in line or forget about advancing in national Democratic politics. And wouldn’t you know it, Shapiro got the message loud and clear, signing a state budget without the school choice funding he once championed.
Political Ambitions Trump Children’s Futures
What’s driving Shapiro’s betrayal of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students? Look no further than his barely concealed presidential ambitions. Shapiro has already been discussing a potential 2028 presidential bid, appearing on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher to test the waters. Apparently, selling out disadvantaged children is just the price of admission for higher office in today’s Democratic Party. The teachers unions demand absolute loyalty, and ambitious politicians like Shapiro are all too happy to comply.
“Josh Shapiro campaigning on commonsense school choice policies and then getting elected and immediately bending the knee to the leftwing teachers union is incredibly on brand for today’s Democrat party. Even the supposed ‘moderates’ are controlled by the extreme left.” – Andrew Surabian.
Republican strategist Andrew Surabian hit the nail on the head. This isn’t just about Shapiro – it’s about the entire Democratic Party apparatus that claims to champion the disadvantaged while actively working to keep them trapped in failing schools. Conservative communicator Steve Guest put it perfectly when he observed, “Josh Shapiro’s 2028 campaign is off to a rough start.” If abandoning children in failing schools is what it takes to win Democratic primaries, what does that say about the party’s priorities?
The Cost of Political Cowardice
The real victims in this political theater aren’t the politicians whose careers might stall – they’re the thousands of Pennsylvania children stuck in failing schools with no way out. These are kids who will never get back the years of education they’re losing while politicians like Shapiro play games with their futures. Every day spent in a failing school is another day these children fall further behind their peers in more affluent neighborhoods who have educational options their families can afford.
Shapiro’s betrayal perfectly illustrates why conservatives are so frustrated with the educational establishment in this country. Time and again, we see politicians talk a good game about educational reform, only to cave the moment the teachers unions express their displeasure. This isn’t about what’s best for children – it’s about what’s best for a system that prioritizes adult interests over student outcomes. And as long as politicians like Shapiro keep getting away with this behavior, nothing will ever change.
