He chaired Montgomery Countys Democratic Party for over two decades, helming the organization during the countys shift from the most deeply Republican-controlled part of the state to one of the Democrats biggest assets. 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. Notably not present was State Rep. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams), the Republican gubernatorial candidate who lost by nearly 15 percentage points in the November election. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. Castor is better known as one of the lead attorneys who defended Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial. What you need to know about the 2022 Pa. governors race. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. 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 Quick search. His first executive He is the face of entitlement. The Investigator (Weekly): Best accountability Shapiros lofty political ambitions have been well-known and discussed throughout his nearly two decades in Pennsylvania politics. Nothing less is acceptable. This is an easy, obvious political win on numerous levels: The move lifts artificial barriers to entering the workforce, expands opportunity, and subsequently grows the economy by opening up (often well-paying) jobs to those who would have otherwise been boxed out. Filters. Effective immediately, 92% of state government jobs about 65,000 positions do not require a four-year college degree, he announced on Twitter. But his bid remains unusual. He is the face of political correctness." Copyright 2023. Gov. According to Shapiro, he expects Fetterman to return and that he will serve for a good long while.. New York Times: Opinion: Something Very Important for Democrats Just Happened in Pennsylvania. 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. PLEASE JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! Ive written extensively about that, and I wouldnt take back a word. Warm start to March before the next wintry mess on Friday! 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. Groen himself isnt in power anymore. It really speaks to what I think Josh does very well. HARRISBURG, PA Governor Josh Shapiro is leading the way on opening the doors of opportunity to more people and expanding our workforce. If you think the Democrat party cares about anything other than personal power look at what they did to John Fetterman. Josh Shapiro will be sworn in January 17 as Pennsylvanias third Jewish governor, taking his oath on a stack of three Hebrew Bibles, one of which comes from the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. It was the first time in history Democrats held a majority in Montco government. Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA contributed to this report. 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. As an independent and elected attorney general, Shapiro is sworn to be a law enforcement officer first and politician second. spotlightpa.org/donate. Throughout Trumps term, Shapiro added his name to dozens of joint lawsuits with other Democratic attorneys general. Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican sponsoring the measure, said that the reexamination is needed. These people who have called me are very impressive people in their own right. Ive gotten a lot of phone calls from people who were very disappointed that they didnt make the final cut, Ceisler said. 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. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. The Senate Government Oversight Committee on Monday voted for Senate Bill 3, sending it to the full Senate for more debate. WebJosh Shapiro did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2022 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you. 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. He is also its third Jewish governor and the first governor since 1966 to belong to the same political party as his predecessor. 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. This giving has made Yass and Susquehanna and by extension, Greenberg extremely well-known in Pennsylvania politics. Ed Rendell did not attend due to mobility challenges. Example video title will go here for this video. He then served as the leader of Pennsylvanias Democratic Party until 2018. Overall, he won 16 percent of registered Republicans and 64 percent of registered independents. Today, too many Americans feel compelled to pursue a college degree, whether they want to or not. WebJosh David Shapiro: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Shapiro won decisively in the vote-rich Philadelphia suburbs where Democrats typically compete, but he also made inroads in rural, working-class areas that have turned sharply away from the Democratic Party. Josh Shapiro fills executive staff with loyal allies, political veterans Who has Pa. Gov. He also insisted that there is no contingency plan to replace the Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news. Cook Political Report, which is tracking Senate races around the country, says the outcome in Pennsylvania is genuinely unpredictable but critically important. Its chair is Senator Sharif Street. Pennsylvania Gov. In addition to seeing other states take action to expand opportunities for workers, Governor Shapiros executive order action has garnered bipartisan support here in Pennsylvania, with Republicans and Democrats lauding this action: Both the Wall Street Journal and New York Times Editorial Boards praised Governor Shapiros leadership on this issue, with the NYT ed board calling it good policy and good leadership and encouraging other states to follow his example. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Im encouraged that representation, as a diversity officer, isnt going to be our issue, she said. At least a dozen state troopers stood together in the back of the room. Interests on both the left and right are already criticizing some of Shapiros picks. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. Josh Shapiro and Wes Moore Are Ready To Step Up The inaugurations in Pennsylvania and Maryland this month introduced Democrats to their future. The company is responsible for the controversial, mishapriddled Mariner East pipeline project, which transports natural gas liquids across Pennsylvania. 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. Shapiro is casting a wider net than [outgoing Democratic Governor Tom] Wolf, Nicholas said. Already, Shapiro has faced criticism for including representatives from both parties who have either been accused of sexual harassment or accused of not doing enough to stop it. 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. On Jan. 18, his first full day in office, Shapiro signed an executive order that dispensed with the requirement of a four-year college degree for 92 percent of positions in state government, meaning roughly 65,000 jobs. He got out in 2018, six years after the U.S. Supreme Court found mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional. Fetterman checked himself into the hospital for treatment of clinical depression on February 16th., Im proud of Senator Fetterman for getting the help that he needs and Im there for Gisele and their family. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.), as well as former Governors Tom Ridge, Mark Schweiker, Tom Corbett and outgoing Gov. Here are some of the laws being proposed in Harrisburg this session, Meal Madness Tournament coming to Cumberland County for second year in a row. Christopher Baxter The morning after his inauguration, Shapiro signed an executive order eliminating a requirement that applicants for most state government jobs have a four-year college degree, calling it an arbitrary requirement. The move was broadly heralded by Democrats and Republicans, as well as conservative publications National Review and Reason. His first executive order, which eliminates a four-year college-degree requirement for thousands of state government jobs, was praised by conservative media. A sitting U.S. As of 2021, just 37.9 percent of Americans over the age of 25 held a bachelors degree. State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, a Republican from a district north of Pittsburgh, sent the governor a text message congratulating him on a good first week in office that put Pennsylvanians first on issues that people from all political sides agree with.. Shapiro said he feels no pressure from inside the Democratic Party to push Fetterman to resign, nor does he feel pressure to push him to stay in the seat to benefit Its a vision for the Democratic party that resonates with Groen, but one that has begun to feel increasingly like a throwback in Pennsylvania. Youve got to see them for the valuable individuals that they are. 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. top news from across PA, plus some fun, too. BizPacReview |, Florida lawmaker files The Ultimate Cancel Act that will hold Dems to their own standards, PA governor says no contingency plan to replace Fetterman despite fitness concerns, C-SPAN did not broadcast House Judiciary border hearing because Dems didnt show up, Bret Baier confronts FBI director disparity in treatment of Trump, Biden: How do you explain that?, Fmr Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosbys whole defense team quits forcing another trial delay, TikTok to roll out screen time limits for teens put some people are already seeing massive issues, WaPo digs into Mar-a-Lago raid, reports tense showdown between FBI, prosecutors, White woman accused of faking ethnic background resigns from progressive group, Twitter pops champagne to celebrate Lightfoots historic defeat: Its a great day in America, US intelligence concludes mysterious Havana Syndrome not caused by foreign adversary. "Josh Shapiro stands for all that is wrong with the Democrat Party," Mastriano said. Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. The Republican field had two, including Tom Corbett, who won. DiGiorgio, who will be on the transition teams finance and insurance team, currently works as a consultant and general counsel for the public relations firm BSI Consulting. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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. After that 2019 protest, we both arranged a sit-down, we sat down, we talked about his criminal justice reform platform. 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. Groen, a retired attorney, is serving on the transition teams economic development advisory committee and will focus on business policy. Blume will work alongside fellow environmentalists and representatives from and lobbyists for Pennsylvanias powerful fossil fuel industries. Shaprio, Pennsylvanias attorney general, will defeat Republican Doug Mastriano, CNN has projected, in the open-seat race to succeed term-limited Democratic Its what hes done his entire career. Pennsylvania government should be a place where every single person has the opportunity to serve and to succeed, Davis said. 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. They are taking away our advertising revenue, censoring our content,and threatening to de-platform us. HARRISBURG For nearly two months, a team of advisors has been working to ensure Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro has a smooth transition from attorney general to head of the nations fifth-most populous state. 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. His approach to governing is similar to how he campaigned seeking to broaden the partys appeal beyond urban and suburban voters. Josh Shapiro supporters at his election night victory party on Nov. 8 in Montgomery County (Photo by Jarrad Saffren) Two years ago, Shapiro, in his role as attorney general, defended Pennsylvanias election process from Trumps lawsuits that attempted to overturn President Joe Bidens victory in the state. After a governor takes office in Pennsylvania, there are an additional 40 cabinet and executive official positions to fill. Shapiro became the third Jewish governor and the first governor since 1966 to belong to the same political party as his predecessor. On a board with Shapiro and another Democrat, Castor might have expected even less influence. 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. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Hes also been endorsed by a Since his election, he has been assembling the team of people who will be part of his administration. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party unanimously voted to endorse Shapiro earlier this year, and he ran for the primary unopposed. Sometimes things are not ideological. It is headquartered in Harrisburg and is the largest political party in the state. He is the first African American to hold the position of lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania. Those themes resonate with voters no matter where they live, Eggleston said. Hes based in Philadelphia and will serve on the transitions health and human services committee, with a focus on health care. 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. The public will not see it and we do not share it. So who are the people Shapiro wants on his side as he prepares to take executive power? Explaining graupel: A more uncommon type of wintry precipitation, shooting rampage in the Tree of Life synagogue, Josh Shapiro's path to the governor's mansion, Pa. speaker's bipartisan group begins work on House rules, READ: Josh Shapiro's inauguration address. On his first full day in office, Gov. 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. For years, he operated in the same Montgomery County political circles as Shapiro and has said he considers the governor-elect a friend. Success! 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. 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. Others have been turned off by what they view as Shapiros hard-edged political ambition. In the 2014 election that saw Corbett ousted, current Gov. 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