Governor Shapiro’s Big Bucks for Pennsylvania Schools

Democratic Spending Spree: Shapiro’s Billion-Dollar Boondoggle

Hold onto your wallets, folks! Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro, our resident Democrat spendthrift, just took a field trip to Amanda E. Stout Elementary in Reading last Friday. Why, you ask? To show off the state’s shiny new budget with an extra $1.1 billion for public schools! Because apparently, throwing money at problems is the only solution Democrats know.

Poor Josh might not be having the best week, though. The man was just snubbed by Kamala Harris for a VP spot—she picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz instead. Ouch! Looks like even the Democrats are playing musical chairs with their political aspirations.

Anyhow, Shapiro teamed up with Pennsylvania Education Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin to mingle with students, teachers, and some lawmakers. They threw a big shindig to celebrate all that taxpayer cash rolling into K-12 public education, courtesy of the 2024-25 budget. Record-breaking doesn’t even begin to cover it—this is like the school funding jackpot for the “spend now, ask questions later” crowd.

Shapiro’s Spending Spree: A Comedy of Errors

“In the bipartisan budget I signed into law last month, Pennsylvania will invest $11 billion in K-12 public education for our students and teachers—that’s $1.1 billion more than last year, a record amount,” Shapiro proudly declared. Atta boy, Josh! Nothing says fiscal responsibility like emptying the state’s coffers, right?

He went on and on about how nothing is more important than investing in kids and their future. He’s proud they made the largest investment ever in the history of the Commonwealth, pumped for direction and progress with stipends, mental health, and fixing up schools. Shapiro was positively glowing with pride, probably because he hasn’t yet realized that throwing money at problems doesn’t always solve them.

Democrat Logic 101: More Money, More Problems?

Even Reading School District Superintendent Jennifer Murray and Reading Education Association President Brian Benkert were there, along with a few local big shots. They brought along Jose Martinez, an 11th grader, to soak up the moment. Poor kid probably thought he was there for a math lesson, but instead got a crash course in Democratic spending habits.

And get this—they’re not just doling out more dough but also changing how the cash flows to the schools. It’s all about the neediest districts, the ones that have been scraping by for ages. So, Amanda E. Stout Elementary will see about $40 million more than last year. Not bad, huh? $325,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency also came through in April to keep those mental health efforts strong! Because nothing says “crime prevention” like padding school budgets, right?

Budget Item	Amount
Total K-12 Education Budget	$11 billion
Increase from Previous Year	$1.1 billion
Special Education	$100 million
Technical Education	$30 million
Mental Health and Safety	$100 million
School Security	$20 million
Menstrual Products	$3 million

Democratic Math: Where More Always Equals Better

Half of the $1.1 billion bump is going to schools that really, really need it, thanks to a shiny new formula. Plus, $100 million more for special education and $30 million for some good ol’ hands-on training in technical education. Because apparently, the solution to every problem is just to throw more money at it. Who needs fiscal responsibility when you can just raid the taxpayers’ pockets?

Shapiro says, “We’re not just sending more dollars; we’re fixing how we send it out.” Sounds like a plan, right? Wrong! It’s just another Democrat shell game, moving money around and calling it reform.

Kamala’s Snub: A Blessing in Disguise?

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the comedy gold of Kamala Harris snubbing Shapiro for the VP spot. Maybe she took one look at his spending habits and decided to pass. After all, Harris has her own reputation for fiscal irresponsibility to maintain. Remember her brilliant solution to the border crisis? “Do not come.” That’s the kind of top-notch problem-solving we’ve come to expect from the Biden administration.

Speaking of the Biden-Harris dream team, let’s not forget their stellar record on foreign policy. With over 100 foreign policy failures under their belt, including the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and the ongoing border crisis, it’s no wonder Kamala’s looking for fresh blood to blame… er, I mean, to join the ticket.

Meanwhile, in Trump’s America…

While we’re on the subject of actual accomplishments, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to the Trump administration. Remember when we had energy independence? How about those historic Middle East peace deals? Or the booming pre-pandemic economy with record-low unemployment rates across all demographics?

Trump’s approach to education was a bit different too. Instead of just throwing money at schools, he focused on expanding school choice and vocational education. You know, actually giving parents and students options beyond the one-size-fits-all public school system that Democrats seem so keen on propping up.

Shapiro’s Flip-Flop: A Tale of Two Policies

Now, here’s a real knee-slapper: Shapiro was all gung-ho for a school voucher program last year, wanting to toss $100 million to help families with private school costs. But when the Democrats started grumbling, he pulled a 180 faster than you can say “political expediency” and vetoed that part to keep the peace. Guess principles are just suggestions when you’re playing for Team Blue, huh?

This flip-flop is a perfect example of the Democrat playbook. Promise reform, cave to special interests, then throw more money at the problem and hope nobody notices. It’s like watching a magician pull a rabbit out of a hat, except the rabbit is your tax dollars and the hat is bottomless.

Conclusion: More Money, More Problems?

As Shapiro gears up for next year, promising even more excitement and making public education the top priority in Pennsylvania, one has to wonder: When will Democrats learn that quality education isn’t just about the size of the check you write?

While Shapiro and his merry band of spendthrifts celebrate their billion-dollar boondoggle, the rest of us are left wondering if any of this will actually improve education in Pennsylvania. But hey, at least the schools will have plenty of cash to count while the students learn… whatever it is they’re learning these days.

In the grand tradition of Democratic governance, Shapiro has proven once again that when it comes to solving problems, their solution is always the same: spend, spend, spend. Who needs results when you have photo ops and big checks, right?