Josh Shapiro on school vouchers

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential vice presidential nominee for Kamala Harris, faces scrutiny over his support for taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, a stance that has drawn criticism from both education advocacy groups and teachers' unions. Critics argue that his backing of such programs, which they claim weaken public education, contradicts the Democratic Party's platform. A coalition of 28 public education advocacy organizations has urged Harris not to select Shapiro, citing concerns that his policies align with conservative education reforms proposed by the Heritage Foundation. Despite his initial support for a $100 million voucher proposal, Shapiro ultimately vetoed the funding amid a budget impasse, and he has not signed any voucher legislation into law to date. Supporters of Shapiro point to his record of increasing public education funding as evidence of his commitment to public schools. The debate around Shapiro's candidacy highlights the complex dynamics within the Democratic Party regarding school choice policies.