News & Brews February 2, 2026
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Groundhog Day—for the weather and the budget?
Well, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, predicting another six weeks of winter, and as Pennsylvania prepares to hear Gov. Shapiro’s annual budget address tomorrow, we’re predicting another “spend too high” proposal. The reason is that his office said Shapiro “will propose another balanced, fiscally responsible budget. …” Another? When was the last one? Apparently, Shapiro’s office thinks reckless spending is “responsible.” Meanwhile, Spotlight PA previews what topics might be in the budget, from housing and energy to “unfinished business” from previous years.
More than half of states signal school choice opt-in; not Pa.
The Lion reports that 27 states have signaled their intent to opt in to the new federal school choice tax credit program. (I mean, why wouldn’t they? Children in those states will benefit, and so will taxpayers.) But guess which state still isn’t on the list? Yep, Pennsylvania. Four states—Wisconsin, Oregon, New Mexico, and Hawaii—have already said they won’t participate, meaning children in those states won’t benefit from the program, and scholarships funded by dollars contributed by residents of those states will go to kids in other states. Meanwhile, Gov. Shapiro continues to avoid giving a straight answer on Pennsylvania’s participation.
‘Covering Shapiro’
Longtime reporter Jeff Cole writes about his experiences covering Gov. Josh Shapiro over many years. Here was the interesting segment: Cole observes thatover the years, Shapiro’s “reaction” to questions “changed.” In one instance, after Cole pressed him on some hot button issues, Shapiro said Cole was treating him like another reporter who “tried to get him to say things he didn’t want to say.” (No, Cole explained. He was simply trying to get answers to tough questions.) “Shapiro did answer many of my questions at press conferences,” Cole writes, “but I learned when it came to some of the toughest, he was adept at slipping the punch.”
Garrity v. Shapiro on ICE
Gov. Josh Shapiro has used the national news circuit recently to express his criticism of ICE, saying the agency should leave Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is challenging Shapiro this November, believes “it’s best to cooperate” with ICE, adding, “Cooperate and take down the rhetoric.” When asked about the recent shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents, Garrity said she “always waits for the investigation…. The investigation will come out, and then any corrective action that needs to be taken, or we’ll see what the results are. I’m going to withhold any judgment until the investigation.”
Number of Pa. independent voters rising
WITF reports that from 2005 to 2025, the proportion of Pa. voters who are registered as independents or third-party voters rose from 12% to 16%, per the Pa. Department of State. “And the data shows the growth of those voters over the last two decades outpaces both major parties. Registered Democrats dropped to 43% of all Pennsylvania voters last year, after a high of 51% in 2011. Republicans’ gains, on the rise since 2015, brought their share of voters to 41% last year.” This trend underscores Pennsylvania’s role as a pivotal swing state. Some use the trend to argue that independents should be allowed to vote in closed party primaries. But forcing private organizations to allow non-members to vote in their internal elections is, of course, highly questionable. A better solution would be to end taxpayer funding of primary elections.