Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro visited Amanda Stout Elementary School this afternoon to showcase the $41 million dollars in funding the Reading School District will receive from this year’s budget.
As the governor began his remarks, he signaled towards the scoreboard in Amanda Stout’s gymnasium, saying, “I did take note of the scoreboard up there; it is 2024. I am the 48th governor, and let me be clear: I’m glad I’m just in the first quarter of being your governor. I love being your governor!”
Prominent figures in local offices, such as State Representative Manny Guzman and State Senator Judy Schwank, preceded the governor’s speech. Extending support from people involved in education, also speaking at today’s event was the Superintendent at Reading School District, Jennifer Murray, Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Education, Khalid Mumin, Reading Education Association President Brian Benkert, and 11th grader from Reading High School, Jose Martinez, who introduced the governor.
Today, the governor crafted a bread-and-butter narrative of economic issues that seemed like, to borrow a football analogy, a playbook for the Democratic campaign’s upcoming strategy in the Fall. The governor touted his signing of this year’s budget and the bipartisan negotiations it took to pass. “I’m the only governor in the entire country with a divided legislature… Here in Pennsylvania, we have shown that we can bring Democrats and Republicans together to solve problems and get things done for our kids.”
Shapiro highlighted the importance of uniting, rather than dividing, voters on basic kitchen-table issues that can bring people together. This seems to fit the vibe that the Harris-Walz campaign has taken since its inception in Philadelphia this Tuesday.
The governor reminded audience members that during his administration, Pennsylvania’s budgets included historic levels of funding. “We are spending more money on police and community-based services to reduce violence and on infrastructure than ever before… We brought Democrats and Republicans together and passed the largest tax cut for seniors in 20 years… We passed the largest childcare tax cut in the history of Pennsylvania… Here in Pennsylvania, we’re showing that you can do common sense things… We can all come together to get stuff done.”
He was not shy to hint at his famous message of being someone who likes to “get stuff done,” and he is acutely aware that voters take note of that kind of appeal.
Taking a page out of the Walz playbook himself, Shapiro was proud to mention that he signed a law last year providing universal free breakfast for all children in Pennsylvania schools.
Local Latino community members invited to attend the governor’s event were happy to share their thoughts on his remarks.
Answering questions jointly, Representatives Manny Guzman and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz gave their thoughts as to how they believed events like the Governor’s remarks on education funding could increase voter outreach, especially to disenfranchised groups within the Latino community who might have been disengaged before Joe Biden stepped down.
Manny Guzman was quick to answer, “It means a lot. It’s a good day when you have the Governor of any state come into your community; it means the Latino community continues to be at the forefront. Reading is almost 80% Latino, and we’re going to be one of those cities that decides who is the next president.”
Representative Cepeda-Freytiz added to those comments. “These events are necessary because knowledge is power. So, with more information that we are disseminating to our community, it’s crucial to know how we’re going to move forward. Because who are we without our community?”
Mayor Eddie Morán adds, “Our communities are paying attention. They want to be here; they want to be heard, and they want to see elected officials in their community. We need to get people into our community so that our community can see that they are being listened to, they are being cared for, and they are willing to be heard.”
Governor Shapiro’s remarks today set into motion a strategy that not only seeks to cast the opposing side as “weird” and antithetical to what America stands for but instead offers up a positive vision for the future of America with policies championed by Democrats. “When we put some points on the board for our kids, when we move the ball down the field, we should celebrate that, and we should be proud of that as Pennsylvania. It’s where we can come together and solve problems.”
Shapiro’s speech goes beyond the historic education funding and a secure safety net; it encompasses the Democrats’ campaign message for the months before the election.
For more information on how the 2024-25 budget will create opportunities for Pennsylvanians, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov(opens in a new tab).
