Harrisburg, Pa., August 22, 2025 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation launched a new ad, calling for Gov. Josh Shapiro to end the budget impasse with a compromise that protects families from tax hikes and offers educational choice.
The ad is running statewide on digital beginning this weekend, and will air on TV from Sunday, August 24 through the 31st in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg markets.
Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Erik Telford issued the following statement in response:
“As students return to school, Gov. Josh Shapiro has forced Pennsylvania into political gridlock, leaving the state without a budget for eight consecutive weeks.
“On June 30th, Shapiro insisted that a budget deal was coming “very, very soon”—a claim that is now more than 50 days old.
“Worse yet, Shapiro and Pennsylvania House Democrats have blocked a plan to fund schools and essential services, intentionally prolonging the tense impasse.
“As the governor continues his holiday, jetting out-of-state for fundraisers and late-night talk shows, Pennsylvania families wait anxiously for a responsible state budget that avoids tax hikes on working families and provides educational choice for students who need it most.
“Shapiro already betrayed vulnerable kids in failing schools by vetoing his campaign promise of Lifeline Scholarships. Now he’s hurting families all across the state by forcing a protracted budget impasse over his demand for deficit spending that will lead to tax hikes.
“If Shapiro and House Democrats truly cared for Pennsylvania families, they would stop the partisanship and do their jobs.”
###
The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies, empowering all Pennsylvanians to thrive.
