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New Ad Campaign Urges Lawmakers to Protect Children and End Political Gridlock
Pennsylvanians can no longer wait for lawmakers to complete the state budget and provide a lifeline to kids trapped in failing and unsafe schools.
HARRISBURG, Pa., October 25, 2023 — Yesterday, Commonwealth Action launched a new ad campaign with full-page print ads in The Philadelphia Tribune urging voters to hold their state representatives accountable for obstructing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) program, also known as Lifeline Scholarships.
Currently, 250,000 Pennsylvania kids are trapped in failing and unsafe schools. PASS would provide many of these students with an a $10,000 scholarship to attend the school of their choice.
Despite broad public support for Lifeline/PASS Scholarships—a program backed by Gov. Shapiro—a handful of lawmakers have blocked funding for the bipartisan measure. As a result, the state’s budget deal remains at an impasse, and several bipartisan initiatives remain unfunded.
The full-page ad names 15 of the state lawmakers actively preventing the passage of Lifeline Scholarships. The state representatives are:
Jason Dawkins
Jose Giral
Malcolm Kenyatta
Regina Young
Jordan A. Harris
Rick Krajewski
G. Roni Green
Joanna E. McClinton
Morgan Cephas
Donna Bullock
Danilo Burgos
Darisha K. Parker
Christopher M. Rabb
Stephen Kinsey
Anthony Bellmon
The ad encourages voters to support Lifeline/PASS Scholarships, contact their lawmakers, and tell them to “stop blocking $10,000 scholarships for kids in our community!”
“It’s unacceptable that a handful of lawmakers are blocking the completion of the state budget and choosing special interests over the interests of Pennsylvania families,” said Erik Telford, spokesperson for Commonwealth Action. “Lawmakers must act now to end the impasse and prioritize kids trapped in failing and unsafe schools to provide for their safety, well-being, and ensure they have a path to a brighter future.”
The full-page ad runs on October 24, October 25, and October 27.
Commonwealth Action Launches New Ads Holding Shapiro & Bradford Accountable for Blundered Budget
Ads target Shapiro for failing to lead and Rep. Matt Bradford for refusing to get back to work.
Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 3, 2023 – Commonwealth Action today launched three new video ads following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s line-item veto of Lifeline (P.A.S.S.) Scholarships from the state budget. The veto marks an embarrassing blunder by Shaprio, torpedoing his own priority and reneging on his campaign promise to fund the program that would provide financial assistance and educational opportunities to kids trapped in the bottom 15% worst-performing Pennsylvania schools.
While Shapiro failed his first real test of leadership, Lifeline (P.A.S.S.) Scholarship funding is far from dead, and the governor still has an opportunity to demonstrate he’s capable of leading the state and his own party to deliver on his commitments. The budget remains incomplete with Rep. Bradford and House Democrats refusing to return from their summer vacation to complete critical authorizing bills.
The first ad, titled Who’s in Charge, contrasts Shapiro’s ease in campaigning with the difficulty he’s encountered in governing:
“As candidate for governor, Josh Shapiro promised to stand up for Pennsylvanians, take on big fights, and deliver real results. He claimed to be willing to take on the status quo. But now as governor, Josh Shapiro is abandoning those he said he would help. Who is in charge of Pennsylvania? Why can’t Shapiro lead his own party… Gov. Shapiro, Pennsylvania needs an effective leader. Don’t turn your back on our kids.”
Another ad, titled Keep His Word, features a school-aged girl imploring Shapiro to keep his word on Lifeline Scholarships:
“Josh Shapiro promised to get kids like me out of failing schools,” she said. “Hundreds of thousands of us are trapped in unsafe and failing schools. Gov. Shapiro, we need your help. We need you to keep your word.”
The third ad, titled The Great Betrayal, calls out the gridlock imposed by Rep. Matt Bradford:
“Democrat leader Matt Bradford has our state in a stranglehold… While Matt Bradford is enjoying his summer vacation, our families are left wondering what the future holds.” The ad urges viewers to tell Bradford “to stop playing games and get back to work.”
The three ads are part of an ongoing, statewide campaign to educate voters about Shapiro’s hypocrisy and his failure to stand up to Rep. Matt Bradford, who has used his legislative leadership position to block poor and minority children from opportunities to attend better schools through Lifeline Scholarships.
“Helping poor kids trapped in failing schools that don’t teach basic skills and don’t prepare children for successful lives is a moral imperative,” said Erik Telford, spokesman for Commonwealth Action. “It’s a fundamental issue of civil rights and should be treated as the emergency that it is.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the families in desperate need of these scholarships and we will continue to hold Gov. Shapiro to his word until he delivers on it,” he said. “Pennsylvanians deserve a governor who can lead by example and honor his promises to the most vulnerable among us.”
Commonwealth Action Billboards Ask Rep. Matt Bradford Why He Abandoned Vulnerable Kids
Harrisburg, Pa., July 26, 2023 – Commonwealth Action today launched a billboard campaign to hold House Majority Leader Matt Bradford accountable for obstructing financial assistance to help mostly low-income, minority children escape chronically failing public schools.
The program—Lifeline Scholarships—passed the legislature in the 2024 state budget, but Bradford’s opposition undermined the deal Gov. Josh Shapiro agreed to with the Pa. Senate, leading Shapiro to abandon his campaign promise with a threat to veto his own priority.
The new billboards are in Bradford’s district.
“Matt Bradford turned his back on our state’s most vulnerable kids,” said Erik Telford, spokesperson for Commonwealth Action. “He undermined Gov. Shapiro’s bipartisan agreement, forcing a budget impasse, leaving the state operating without funding while adjourning the House for a summer break.”
In a glaring conflict of interest, in addition to his full-time job as a legislator, Bradford has profited from moonlighting at a law firm representing the very school districts he votes to fund. In fact, in 2018, Bradford was rebuked for failing to disclose this fact.
“Matt Bradford refuses to reconvene the House to do their job and finalize the budget. This impasse leaves the commonwealth in a state of uncertainty, and to add to the embarrassment, Pennsylvania now joins North Carolina as one of only two states in the union failing to secure budgets or temporary funding measures.” Telford said. “Pennsylvanians are demanding that Gov. Shapiro take responsibility and step up as a leader to end the impasse and complete the state budget, while honoring his agreement with the Senate and fulfilling his promise to voters by delivering on Lifeline/P.A.S.S. scholarships.”
The billboards follow Commonwealth Action’s video ads exposing Bradford for “blocking opportunities for low-income kids” and turning his back on Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable children.
New Ad Asks Pa. Rep. Matt Bradford: Why are you turning your back on Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable kids?
Ad began airing today in Bradford’s district and Harrisburg.
Harrisburg, Pa., June 30, 2023 — A new ad was launched today, appearing across news outlets in the district of State Rep. Matt Bradford, calling attention to Bradford’s efforts to block bipartisan legislation that would provide disadvantaged students with a way out of Pennsylvania’s most chronically failing schools.
Bradford has said he will stand in the way of the legislation to create Lifeline Scholarships despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s support for the program.
The ad, paid for by Commonwealth Action, will begin airing today as lawmakers work to complete the state’s 2024 budget.
The State Senate last night passed budget legislation that included Lifeline Scholarships. The legislation now goes to the House where Bradford said he will block the Lifeline Scholarship language.
View the ad here.
AD TRANSCRIPT
Democrat Matt Bradford represents a wealthy suburban district. But just outside his district, thousands of low-income minority students are suffering in failing schools. Matt Bradford wants to keep them there. Gov. Josh Shapiro has promised to help these kids, but Matt Bradford is standing in the schoolhouse door, blocking opportunities for low-income kids. Rep. Bradford, why are you turning your back on Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable kids?
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