Shapiro: "I Will Line-Item Veto" PASS Voucher Program
By: Steve Ulrich
July 5, 2023
3:42 PM
In an effort to get a state budget passed, Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced that he will line-item veto the $100 million allocated by Senate Republicans for its Pennsylvania Award For Student Success scholarship program (PASS).
“Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation with a full-time, divided legislature — meaning nothing gets done unless it can make it through our Republican-led Senate and our Democratic-led House,” Shapiro said in a press release statement. “Over the past several weeks, I have worked with leaders in both chambers to craft a commonsense, responsible budget that makes critical investments in public safety, agriculture, economic development, public education, workforce development, relief for our seniors, and much more, as I laid out in my budget address in March.
“Last Friday, the Senate passed a responsible budget that delivers critical funding to our shared priorities and sent it to the House for its consideration. Now, we stand at an impasse largely over one provision of this budget, PASS Scholarships, a proposal I support that has been passed by the Senate but one that Leader Bradford has made clear does not have the support of the House, where it was voted down in committee on Friday.
“Over the weekend, (House Majority) Leader (Matt) Bradford (D-Montgomery) requested a legal memo from the Office of General Counsel, which confirmed that without enabling legislation setting up this program, my Administration legally cannot implement it. Knowing that the two chambers will not reach consensus at this time to enact PASS, and unwilling to hold up our entire budget process over this issue, I will line-item veto the full $100 million appropriation and it will not be part of this budget bill.
https://www.politicspa.com/shapiro-i-will-line-item-veto-pass-voucher-program/123214/
( Absolutely awesome, he will be fighting 'til the bitter end! )
= new reply since forum marked as read
but I was very disappointed in Gov. Shapiro's 'support' of any 'voucher' program. Much like I was with PRESIDENT OBAMA and his Education Department Secretary, Arne Duncan, I do NOT agree with the concept of cutting support for the state-supported education system to allow parents to direct money to 'systems/schools' that are NOT overseen by the same regulations/requirements expected of the 'public school system.'
However, I DO appreciate his support of the DEMOCRATIC-led House of Representatives - and his maneuvering through the political maze to get a budget passed!
