When people believe the rules are rigged, trust in government declines.

Public trust is arduous to build and effortless to destroy. It disappears when elected officials appear to be using public office to enrich themselves, their families or their business partners. Therefore, ethical regulations are not a side issue. They are necessary for the functioning of democracy.

New financial assets, particularly cryptocurrency, have created modern opportunities for corruption and self-employment. Our laws need to catch up.

I sponsored cryptocurrency corruption legislation that recently passed the Pennsylvania House. But these protections are needed at every level of government.

Congress is currently considering the CLARITY Act, legislation that would establish federal rules for the cryptocurrency industry. But the bill doesn’t answer the most obvious ethical question: Should elected officials be able to profit from the industry while they write the laws to regulate it?

The answer should be no.

The Trump family has developed a enormous and growing financial interest in cryptocurrencies through digital asset companies, token offerings and related business partnerships. At the same time, the Trump administration and Congress are making decisions that could determine the future of the industry.

Regardless of your opinion on cryptocurrency or Donald Trumpthis is an obvious conflict of interest.

No president, member of Congress, cabinet official, or immediate family member should be able to make money from policies that person is responsible for creating, enforcing, or influencing. This standard should apply equally to Republicans and Democrats.

The risk is not theoretical. Before President Trump returned to office, a UAE-backed company poured hundreds of millions of dollars into a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family. The administration later eased restrictions on the export of advanced artificial intelligence technology to the United Arab Emirates.

At the very least, this sequence of events raises earnest questions about whether American policy is shaped by the national interest or the private financial interests of those close to the president.

Congress should not ignore these questions.

The solution is elementary. The CLARITY Act should prohibit elected officials, senior executive appointees, and their immediate family members from owning, issuing, promoting, or profiting from cryptocurrency-related ventures while those officials are in office.

These rules should be clear, enforceable and apply to everyone.

Pennsylvania senators have an significant role to play. Senator John Fetterman he has repeatedly presented himself as someone willing to challenge powerful interests on behalf of working people. He should insist that significant ethics protections be included before the Senate takes a final vote.

Without these protections, he should oppose the bill.

The problem is bigger than cryptocurrency. The issue is whether Americans can trust that public officials write laws for the public, not themselves.

Ethics cannot be an afterthought added after the industry gets what it wants. Ethics must be the basis of law.

Until Congress closes the door on independent trade, the CLARITY Act is not ready to become law.

Rep. Ben Waxman represents the 182nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

After a stormy hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Senate, St Senator Doug Mastriano (R-Adams/Franklin) is one step closer to being nominated as U.S. ambassador to Slovakia.

On Wednesday morning, the committee voted along party lines 12-10 in favor of Mastriano’s nomination. The nomination must still be approved by a Senate vote.

His. John Cornyn (R-Texas) threatened to withhold his support for Mastriano’s nomination unless the Trump administration provides evidence of progress in making funds available for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). After receiving assurances that the government’s worldwide HIV and AIDS treatment program would receive what it was owed, Cornyn voted for approval.

Mastriano’s nomination and Lake Kari for the Ambassador to Jamaica will now be sent to the full Senate for review and probable confirmation.

Mastriano, the GOP’s 2022 candidate for governor, was criticized by Democratic committee members over past comments.

“You have contact with anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers.” You. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) Mastriano said during a hearing last Thursday. “You have associated yourself with 9/11 conspiracy theorists. Your comments about foreign leaders are not diplomatic in nature.”

He told lawmakers he was present at Trump’s speech at The Ellipse and was not involved in the Capitol riot. When asked at the hearing who won the 2020 election, Mastriano told lawmakers that Joe Biden was declared the winner.

Mastriano was also asked whether “all U.S. political leaders should be Christians,” to which he replied that he had a proven track record of upholding the Constitution and its values.

Mastriano, a former U.S. Army officer, has represented Adams and Franklin counties since 2019. He previously served in West Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan before teaching at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.

US Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), who serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed his support for Mastriano following his nomination.

“If confirmed, he will be a great ambassador,” McCormick said in May. “Doug dedicated his life to serving our nation in uniform and in public office, and I wish him all the best in this important role of representing America abroad.”

(Central Square) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at a signing ceremony Monday at the Young Women’s Fellowship YWCA in Carlisle, praised the state’s recent budget agreement to enhance funding for rape crisis centers by 100 percent.

This was a change from last year, when a budget impasse forced many centers to cut services and lay off staff. Under the recent agreement, state funding for Pennsylvania’s 47 rape crisis centers increased by $12 million. Although many Republicans questioned whether there was actually a budget ‘balanced,’ Shapiro maintained that the plan and prioritization of survivors was a mutual effort.

“We stayed at the table and found ways to unite Democrats and Republicans to tackle these big challenges, including doubling funding for our rape crisis centers across Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro, a Democrat. “This is the highest amount ever recorded in the history of our Republic.”

Rape crisis centers currently serve 26,000 Pennsylvanians each year. Of this number, 6,000 are children. YWCA Board Member Andrea Greene she recalled that when she was a child, there was a particular lack of response and resources for victims.

“As a child, it wasn’t until many years later that I was able to find my voice and ask for help.” Greene said.

For Greene, the recent budget is a way to rewrite the narrative that she and many other vulnerable children have experienced.

“Educate young people how to say no and ask for help through rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth,” she said.

While the main theme of the signing was giving a voice to survivors, Shapiro also took the time to harshly criticize those who he felt had failed to operate the voice they had already been given.

“I have made it very clear over and over again that the behavior of Senate Republican leadership in cowering in the face of opposition from the Catholic Church and the insurance lobby is cowardly.” Shapiro said.

Although Shapiro campaigned on promises to bring justice to victims of child sexual abuse, she was unable to force passage of legislation that would have given victims two years to bring their perpetrators to justice.

Six bills were successfully proposed and passed in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, but each time they were defeated in the Senate. While Shapiro received bottle for the inaction in this case in recent months, he claimed to the media that the fault definitely lies with the other court.

“It is a shame that Republican leadership in the Senate did not take action,” Shapiro said. “Instead, they stand up to protect institutions that cover up abuse and refuse to give survivors a day in court.”

Republican Party leaders have long believed that a constitutional amendment giving survivors a two-year window for legal proceedings would withstand legal scrutiny and not get bogged down in years of legal battles.

The amendment nearly crossed the finish line to get on the 2021 primary ballot, but was disqualified due to a clerical error by the Department of State under then-Governor Tomek Wilk.

He served as attorney general during the grand jury investigation that uncovered the case sexual crimes of six Roman Catholic dioceses, Shapiro said he listened more closely than others to the financial needs of rape crisis groups.

“A lot of times people say they need more,” Shapiro said. However, unlike public libraries which will continue to receive flat financing from the state this year, crisis groups and rape advocates are finally receiving the financial benefits of being higher on Shapiro’s priority list.

“The more I listened to them,” Shapiro said. “The more I realized we needed more in this budget.”

While recent development is currently stuck in Harrisburg due to logistics budgeting, it is expected that funds will soon become available for distribution.

Julia Kramer is an intern reporter at The Center Square

In this episode of Voices of Reason, PoliticsPA’s Steve Ulrich and his guests discuss democratic socialism. Who are democratic socialists? What does this term mean? What does this mean for the Democratic Party establishment? How does this impact the 2026 elections?

State of Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Rabbself-described democratic socialist and candidate for the 3rd Congressional District and Sarah Nieblerprofessor of political science at Dickinson College, answer these questions and more.

To receive more Pennsylvania political news every weekday morning, subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook at policypa.com/subscribe

Tuesday. All roads lead to Carlisle and Defense Peak.

Headlines. The budget ignores hard policy questions. Defense Industry Congregates in Pennsylvania. The Department for Education is targeting Cheltenham. How PA Bird-In-Hand got its name.

Your morning, pick me up. People must be free. Rascals

Weather in Pennsylvania
Johnstown | Sunny, 89
Carlisle | Sunny, 93
Nuangola | Sunny, 92

Sports PA
Phillies (54-43, 2GB) | All-Star break
Pirates (50-47, 9.5 GB, 2 GB WC) | All-Star break

What’s happening today. The Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summitwhich is hosted by Senator Dave McCormickA two-day course begins at the US Army War College in Carlisle.

What we hear. Collection data is starting to be published. In PA-01, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick raised $1.3 million in Q2, while in PA-07, Bob Brooks he also earned $1.3 million. In PA-08, Paige Cognetti over $2 million was raised.

Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].

PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.

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The most significant story

1. AP adopts $50.8 billion budget that sends more money to poorest schools, ignores hard policy issues

“Governor Josh Shapiro signed a $50.8 billion budget that includes huge modern investments in education but does not address regulation of skill games or other pressing policy issues.

The budget does not change the state’s fiscal reality – it spends more money than it brings in. It also does not take into account any modern revenue-generating policy changes, such as modern taxes on tech companies backed by lawmakers from both major parties.” | PA reflector

Elsewhere

AP passes $50.8 billion budget, but key questions remain. “Some of Pennsylvania’s toughest challenges remain unresolved after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the 2026-2027 budget on Sunday following a rare weekend session of the General Assembly.” | Lehigh Valley Public Media

Here’s what’s in — and what’s not in — Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion budget. “Pennsylvania’s new $50.8 billion state budget was stretched into more than 600 pages of legislation and took effect on Sunday. New data center regulations, new education funding and more were approved in the sweeping spending package. But some of the most pressing issues facing the General Assembly were conspicuously left out of the final agreement.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

• How did Pennsylvania escalate its rainy day fund in this year’s budget? | USA Today Network
• Pittsburgh-area legislators and advocates celebrate PA budget victories | WESA
• Local legislators comment on the passage of the $50.8 billion state budget | Wilkes-Barre Times leader
• ‘Fiscally responsible’ budget takes billions off the books, says Diamond | Central Square
• How AP’s modern budget could impact Lancaster County state races in November | (*14*)LNP
• What Pennsylvania’s school funding escalate means for Pittsburgh-area districts | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
• Pennsylvania’s budget includes an additional $157 million for Philadelphia schools| Chalkbeat

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Country

2. Defense industry flocks to Pennsylvania as U.S. weapons stockpiles hit modern low

“Major defense industry players as well as Trump administration officials will gather at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, starting Tuesday as concerns grow that the county’s weapons stockpile is dangerously low following a series of attacks on Iran.

President Trump himself will join Wednesday’s roundtable as part of the two-day Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit he will host Senator Dave McCormick.

Keystone State companies produce thousands of parts in the U.S. military supply chain, playing key roles in the production of ships, vehicles and weapons, according to a modern report from logistics company Exiger. | New York Post Office

Elsewhere

Bresnahan calls for CDL reforms after the Schuylkill crash that killed a soldier. “In the wake of a fiery crash in Schuylkill County that killed a Pennsylvania state trooper earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan reiterated his support for proposed legislation to prevent people in the country illegally from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.” | Scranton Times Tribune

PA Taxpayers Paid $34 Million for Legislators’ Sophisticated and Unnecessary Technology. “Under their leadership, the four caucuses of the Pennsylvania Legislature – House Republicans, House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats – are purchasing, operating and overseeing their own technologies rather than collaborating on contracts.” | PennLive

PA Legislature awards millions in no-bid contracts with unclear billing. “According to the Pennsylvania Legislature, there are no regulations requiring bidding for construction work or technology services, which means it can and does select vendors for multi-million dollar projects behind closed doors.” | PennLive

AP lawmakers have just days to set sentencing guidelines for murder cases. Hundreds of cases are on the line. “State lawmakers left Harrisburg on Sunday without approving a new sentencing structure for second-degree murder convictions, all but ensuring Pennsylvania would miss a court-imposed deadline to change a law that the state’s highest court found unconstitutional because it prohibited judges from assessing individual guilt.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

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Around the Republic of Poland

3. The Department for Education attacks Cheltenham for failing to address sexual misconduct

“Secretary of Education Linda McMahon warned in a letter to a Dear Colleague that schools receiving federal dollars must protect students from sexual misconduct under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title IX – a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination – or risk losing federal funding.

The department’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into 20 school districts, including the Cheltenham School District, that it suspects they are not adequately handling inappropriate sexual conduct between staff and students based on reports submitted to the 2023-2024 Civil Rights Dataset. | POLICY

Elsewhere

PA responds to DOJ letter threatening criminal charges for violating federal voting laws. “Pennsylvania’s top election official responded, as requested, to a federal Justice Department inquiry last week suggesting he could be prosecuted on suspicions of noncitizen voting.” | PennLive

Democrat Stelson’s campaign reports raised nearly $2 million in second quarter in key U.S. House race. “Democrat U.S. House candidate Janelle Stelson raised nearly $2 million in the second quarter, giving her nearly $4.5 million in cash, her campaign said Monday.” | PennLive

Three Philadelphia City Council districts are emerging as key battlegrounds in the 2027 election. “All 17 City Council members appear poised to run for re-election next year, but a wave of challengers is brewing to take on the old guard.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

In the event of a sudden reversal, the county council could abandon its plan to remove its own spending cap. “The Allegheny County Council is changing course and moving to repeal controversial legislation it passed weeks ago to eliminate the spending cap and clear the way for taxpayer-funded expansion.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper

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Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

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1 item

5. Quirky Towns in Pennsylvania: Exploring the History of Odd Names

“With over 2,500 municipalities, including boroughs, towns, and cities, as well as countless unincorporated villages and hamlets, Pennsylvania is full of town names that sound a bit odd.

If you’ve ever wondered how Forty Fort, Bird-in-Hand, and Jersey Shore got their names, we’ve got the story for you. | Key

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Thank you for starting your Tuesday with us.
Seize the day. See you tomorrow.

Twelve days after the state’s statutory deadline, the state Senate agreed to a state budget proposal in its Sunday session, sending a $50.08 billion budget back to the House, getting closer to reaching Governor Josh Shapiro desk.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed Shapiro’s $53.3 billion budget proposal in April, but the GOP-majority state Senate stood by its position, keeping its promise not to exhaust the Commonwealth’s rainy day fund or impose fresh taxes on state residents.

HB 2400 passed the Senate by a 44-6 majority.

Senate President pro tempore Kim Ward (D-Westmoreland) praised the work done by members on both sides of the aisle.

“By working together, making compromises and making difficult choices, we have done a service to those we represent,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Indiana/Jefferson/Westmoreland) is proud of the budget, despite some naysayers.

“The budget is an imperfectly good budget,” he said. “Excellence should not be the enemy of goodness. Voting for this budget means voting yes on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania.”

Senate Majority Appropriations Leader Scott Martin (R-Berks/Lancaster) said the budget is the price of divided government.

“When you have a divided government budget, you’re going to be happy with some things and not happy with others,” he said. “This budget allows the Commonwealth to fight another day.”

Minority Leader in the Senate Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) particularly noted the lack of fresh taxes and reductions in existing ones.

“There are no tax increases here,” Costa said. “As the CNI drops to 6.99%, taxes will be reduced. There are many other investments that will benefit Pennsylvanians. Ultimately, this is a budget that is definitely worth supporting.”

This is a developing story.

The law is full of deadlines. Some of them are very real. If you owe taxes, you must pay them by April 15 or you will be charged interest and penalties. If you want to sue someone, you must do so before the statute of limitations expires, otherwise the lawsuit will be dismissed.

Other terms are apparently just appearances. The most vital of them is the deadline for implementing the state budget, which expires on June 30. This year, for the fifth year in a row, the governor and the legislative branch failed to complete this task on time. Unlike the examples mentioned above – and unlike countless other deadlines that the legislature imposes on the citizens of this community – no penalty will be imposed on anyone.

That’s not much of a term, is it?

When ordinary Pennsylvanians have work deadlines, school deadlines, or state-mandated deadlines to meet, failure to meet them usually comes with some sort of penalty. But for our full-time legislators (salaries start at $110,016-plus expenses) and Governor ($229,642), these deadlines are merely a polite suggestion that they should do their job.

The Pennsylvania Constitution requires an annual budget, but does not provide an exact dateleaving this choice to the legislator. This flexibility worked for a while. But now, after five straight years of missing the deadline and leaving state spending in limbo — sometimes for months — it is clear that the norm that allows the Legislature to be accountable has been broken.

The blame for this continued failure must fall almost entirely on Governor Josh Shapiro. While the governor loves to complain that he is hampered by divided government, Pennsylvania’s party governors have had to deal with this disadvantage many times in the recent past, with Democrats Tom Wolf and Ed Rendell facing off against Senate Republicans for eight years. What has changed is that this governor also wants to be president, so he is proposing a budget designed to appeal to Democratic voters in 2028, not to the 253 members of the narrowly divided General Assembly or the citizens of this commonwealth. Shapiro’s annual budgets are designed to fail – and they do.

Rep. Melissa Shusterman (R-Chester) recently proposed a solution by introducing legislation that would keep the Legislature in session every day after June 30 in the absence of a budget, and would also amend the Constitution to require the governor to call a special session if a general appropriations bill is not passed by that date.

We applaud this initiative, but we must recognize that requiring lawmakers to attend is not the same as requiring them to do work, just as requiring a governor to submit a budget is not the same as requiring him to submit a budget that could actually be passed.

Simply requiring the legislature to do something won’t work because it is unenforceable – a court can find that the legislature has violated the law, but the only remedy is for a judge to order the legislator to get to work – something the state’s citizens already do.

We can see the truth of this from lawsuit regarding education financing which ended in 2023. It took the state court system eight years to find that the legislature had failed to meet the constitutional requirement to provide “a solid and effective public education system” What was the cure after all this? The judge told them to go and do it. Three years later, nothing has changed.

The answer, therefore, is to provide additional incentive. The answer can be found in one of the other good government provisions of the Philadelphia City Charter. There, in the section requiring the re-drawing of municipal districts every ten years in accordance with the census, the statute states that if the City Council fails to complete the task on time, they stop making money.

Pennsylvania voters may look favorably on an amendment to our state constitution that did the same for our legislators – and our governor.

There is no budget, no salary. There’s a simplicity to it that every voter who works for a living can understand: If you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid.

Is there a sinister motive behind Pennsylvania’s move? Sense. John Fetterman AND Dave McCormick unite in a joint fundraiser?

Democrats say yes, and the former Republican predicts Fetterman, the state’s former lieutenant governor, will switch parties.

A fresh political action committee was established, Common Ground PA filed with the Federal Election Commission earlier this week. The committee collects contributions, defrays fundraising costs, and distributes net proceeds to two or more political committees/organizations, at least one of which is an authorized committee of a federal candidate.

• Fetterman for AP
• Every Vote PAC, leadership sponsor is Fetterman
• Friends of Dave McCormick
• Pennsylvania Honor, leadership sponsor is McCormick

“It’s a donor effort.” Mike DeVanneyA spokesman for McCormick’s campaign told The Center Square. “This group of donors values ​​Senators McCormick and Fetterman’s partnership on behalf of Pennsylvania and wants to support them both.”

Fetterman’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Fetterman was criticized by other Democrats for his voting record. According to Legisletterthe state’s senior senator voted with Democrats 79 percent of the time, breaking ranks more often than most party members.

Krzysztof Mikołajlong-time GOP consultant and magazine publisher PA Political Reviewfound the creation of Common Ground PA under the Fetterman and McCormick campaigns noteworthy.

“This seems like a very intriguing development and another sign of close coordination not only on policy, but also on policy issues between Senators McCormick and Fetterman,” Nicholas told The Center Square. “What I’m most interested in now is who do they want to support through this fresh joint fundraising committee?”

Nicholas said he has never seen elected officials from opposing sides of Pennsylvania come together to form a joint fundraising committee.

Adam JentlesonFetterman’s former chief of staff expressed his criticism bluntly on social media.

Rep., Chris Deluzio (D-17), who represents all of Beaver and part of Allegheny County, asked a uncomplicated question.

Former congressman Conor Lambdefeated by Fetterman in the 2022 Democratic primary, said the senator was betraying the people of Pennsylvania.

Another betrayal from Fetterman, but look on the glowing side: We’ll make Republicans burn their money before Pennsylvania fires him. https://t.co/JDJIO3JTac

— Conor Lamb (@ConorLambPA) July 9, 2026

Lamb followed yesterday’s post with a Friday tweet criticizing both Keystone State senators.

They could band together to regain health care for the 160,000 Pennsylvanians who lost it.

We were able to join forces to address grocery prices in PA, which are some of the fastest rising in the country.

But no, they only join forces to make money for themselves, sell books and pose for cameras. https://t.co/JDJIO3JTac

— Conor Lamb (@ConorLambPA) July 10, 2026

It was Rick Wilsonpolitical strategist and one of the founders of the Lincoln Project, who was the most outspoken on social media.

Former CNN political commentator Chris Cillizza he suggested that Fetterman would be more likely to go independent than join the GOP.

Sam Janeschwho covers Pennsylvania politics, noted earlier this year that Fetterman’s own fundraising had declined.

Fetterman’s move to direct fundraising with McCormick comes at a time when his own fundraising has declined significantly and as some major GOP donors have stepped in to support his other fundraising and leadership PACs, as I wrote about earlier this year.https://t.co/tjVJqQuTHp https://t.co/WJps29gu0g

— Sam Janesch (@samjanesch) July 9, 2026

Does it take two to make a dream come true?

Pennsylvania could find itself with two members of Congress at the top of the food chain on the House Budget Committee.

As the first panel to examine the President’s annual budget message, the Committee on Primary responsibility of the Committee on Budgets is to prepare a parallel resolution reconciling the details of expenditure with the overall comprehensive budget package.

One sec Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) is currently the committee’s ranking member, the battle is on to see who will be the next top Republican, and in the mix is Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-11).

Slim and Representative Blake Moore (R-Utah) are vying to replace the chairman of the Budget Committee Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) following the latter’s decision to retire.

This is not the first time the Earl of Lancaster has thrown his hat into the ring for the position. In 2022, Smucker ran for the position, but Arrington won in a second secret ballot by House Republican Steering Committee leaders.

According to the report in Punchbowl NewsSmucker spoke to members of the House Republican Steering Committee – the panel that decides committee leadership races – and met with House GOP leaders about his bid. This group includes a pair of congressmen from Pennsylvania – representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-14), Chief Deputy WhipAND Mike Kelly (R-16), Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Taxation.

Smucker and Kelly recently wrote a letter to Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Jefferson/Indiana/Westmoreland) are calling on Pennsylvania lawmakers to operate this year’s state budget process to align Pennsylvania’s state tax code with the pro-growth, pro-job and pro-investment policies included in last year’s tax cuts for working families.

A source familiar with his activities said Smucker had locked up the majority needed to win the race.

“I am deeply grateful for the strong support and encouragement I have received in conversations with members of the House Republican Steering Committee,” Smucker told PoliticsPA.

Smucker is the older of the two candidates and currently serves as vice chairman of the panel. Moore is Vice-chairman of the House GOP conference and also has a seat in the helm, which is traditionally an advantage in a race for the gavel.

Fundraising for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) also plays a key role in the fight for the committee’s top position. Smucker was a top 10 fundraiser and has raised more than $2.2 million for NRCC this cycle compared to about $1 million for Moore.

But another factor working against Smucker is that since the Budget Committee’s formal mechanism began in 1973, no state has had both ranking members.

“Our nation’s debt burden is one of the greatest challenges facing our country,” Smucker said. “Just paying interest on our national debt, now nearly $1 trillion a year, limits our ability to invest in priorities, respond to emergencies, and leave America stronger for future generations. We must rise to this challenge, and that’s why I’m seeking the opportunity to lead the House Budget Committee. My efforts in Congress have always been aimed at uniting Members to advance earnest, fiscally responsible legislation. We made historic progress on reconciliation last year, which has brought over $1 trillion in savings, but much more work needs to be done to change America’s fiscal trajectory.”

Pennsylvania has not had a chairman of the House Budget Committee since the 100th Congress (1987–1989), when William H. Gray III he held this position.

In a Sunday interview, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his optimism about America’s future and concerns about “executive chaos.”

Shapiro gave CNN a tour of some of Philadelphia’s landmarks Dana Basiahost of “State of the Union”, showcasing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the President’s House.

He expressed his amazement at what was accomplished 250 years ago in Philadelphia and why he is optimistic about America today.

“It’s extraordinary. Right here, in this relatively small room in Philadelphia, all these differences of interest came together and came through to declare our independence from the king and then set up barriers,” he said. (Benjamin Franklin) rose and told the founders of our nation that vivid days were coming. Even after he talked about the imperfections of the Constitution, he still felt optimistic about this fresh nation. Today I share this optimism.”

Shapiro also drew on the lessons of the founding fathers when he declared independence from England.

“I think things are difficult right now because of the excesses, corruption and chaos in the executive branch that our founders debated and reflected on in this room,” he said.

“They were worried about creating a government in which a king could be reconstituted, in which one person could amass so much power that tyranny would reign again. I’m afraid we’re back to that. We have an executive that has amassed much more power than our founders expected or wished, that tries to limit freedom, that tries to put a litmus test on who gets more freedom than others.”

Shapiro also called out Vice President J.D. Vance for his language in speeches abroad, calling it “truly dangerous and destructive.”

The governor was critical of Congress for ceding much of its power as one of three coequal branches of government.

“I think that, unfortunately, there are some deeply and woefully weak people in Congress who could learn a few lessons from the strong foundation that the founders laid for us here in this room,” Shapiro said.

Bash said a recent CNN poll found that just 28 percent of Americans had a favorable view of the Democratic Party, and Shapiro said it was because Democrats must “deliver things that make people’s lives better.”

“We need to focus, not only as a party but in politics in general, on whether we can really achieve benefits for the people, on how we can do something for the people and get away from this performative politics that only makes noise but does not improve anyone’s life,” he said.

He also spoke about the challenges facing his party, especially his opposition to some candidates who are making noise within the party Darializ Avila Chevalier New York.

The socialist congressional candidate for Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx has previously advocated many far-left views, such as abolishing prisons, eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling former President Joe Biden a rapist and bragged about wiping her filthy hands on the American flag.

“I have deep differences with this particular candidate,” Shapiro said, “based on the quotes you just read there. ‘And she’s not someone I would superficially agree with on many issues or who shares similar values. She ran on the Democratic ticket, I believe, as a socialist. Her voters in this district have decided that she is the one they want to represent her.’

Still, the governor said what Democrats will go through in the next 12 to 18 months will be positive.

“I think what our party needs to go through is something that will be very healthy, and something that we haven’t really done since the 1992 election cycle is fight for what we believe in, fight for ideas that we will hold on to and campaign on and then implement to make people’s lives better,” he said.

“And I expect that our party over the next year or so will fight the battle for what we believe in and then emerge united in a way that we can take the fight to the other side and truly work for the American people.”

He also deflected a question about his thoughts on running for president as a Jew in 2028.

“I have been very open about how my faith and family guide me in a life of service,” Shapiro said. “Over my years of service in government, I have found that society wants you to be who you are, to be authentic. Let them know what motivates you to serve and why you do this work. My faith teaches me that no one is obligated to do this task, but we cannot refrain from doing it either, much like what Ben Franklin preached about citizen participation in our community, in our country, in the perfection of our union.”