Josh Shapiro

[[File:Josh Shapiro 2022 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|165px|Shapiro in 2022]]{{uspolitics}}
'''Joshua David Shapiro''' {{lived|1973}} is the current governor of [[Pennsylvania]], being elected in the [[2022 midterm elections]] after utterly trouncing [[dominionism|dominionist]] state senator [[Doug Mastriano]]. Prior to that, he was the attorney general of Pennsylvania from 2017–2022. He is the state's third [[Jew]]ish governor, after {{wpl|Milton Shapp}}{{efn|Who was born Milton Shapiro, interestingly enough, though there does not appear to be a relation. He changed his last name due to the rampant [[antisemitism]] of the time period (he came of age during the [[Great Depression]]).<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/milton-jerrold-shapp/ Gov. Milton Jerrold Shapp], ''National Governors Association''</ref>}} and {{wpl|Ed Rendell||.}}<ref>[https://momentmag.com/josh-shapiro-gen-x-jewish-governor/ Governor Josh Shapiro: Not Your Grandfather’s Jewish Politician], Dan Freedman and Fallon Roth, ''Moment'' 16 January 2023</ref> He was strongly considered for the position of [[Kamala Harris]]'s VP for the [[2024 U.S. presidential election]] ticket, and the choice reportedly came down between him and [[Minnesota]] governor [[Tim Walz]], but ultimately he was passed down in favor of the latter.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/06/why-harris-chose-tim-walz-not-josh-shapiro/74684641007/ Why Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz over Josh Shapiro as her running mate], Joey Garrison and Rebecca Morin, ''USA Today'' 6 August 2024</ref>

==Attorney generalship==
Perhaps his most famous accomplishment as AG was investigating the [[Catholic]] church over its [[child sexual abuse]] scandal, ultimately finding over 1,000 people who were abused as children and exposing 301 [[pedophile]] priests who operated in the state, which led to investigations in other states.<ref>[https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/attorney-general-shapiro-details-findings-of-2-year-grand-jury-investigation-into-child-sex-abuse-by-catholic-priests-in-six-pennsylvania-dioceses/ Attorney General Shapiro Details Findings of 2-Year Grand Jury Investigation into Child Sex Abuse by Catholic Priests in Six Pennsylvania Dioceses], ''Pennsylvania Attorney General'' 14 August 2018</ref> He strongly opposed [[Donald Trump]]'s attempts to overturn the results of the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]] in the state, and he gets points for roasting [[Ted Cruz]] after Trump asked him to help [[2021 U.S. coup attempt#Prelude|steal the election]].<ref>[https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/529651-pennsylvania-ag-calls-ted-cruz-a-sad-sack-after-trump-calls-for-his-help Pennsylvania AG calls Ted Cruz a 'sad sack' after Trump asks for his help in Texas lawsuit], Jordan Williams, ''The Hill'' 10 December 2020</ref> In 2021, he reached a $26 billion settlement with Johnson & Johnson and three other pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis.<ref>[https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/attorney-general-shapiro-announces-26-billion-agreements-with-opioid-distributors-manufacturer/ Attorney General Shapiro Announces $26 Billion Agreements with Opioid Distributors/Manufacturer], ''Pennsylvania Attorney General'' 21 July 2021</ref> That same year, he also settled the largest criminal case of wage theft in U.S. history, awarding $21 million to workers who were underpaid by a construction company.<ref>[https://goerie.com/story/news/2021/08/03/pa-construction-firm-repay-21-million-prevailing-wage-case/5473417001/ Pa. construction firm to repay nearly $21 million to workers in prevailing wage case], J.D. Prose, ''Go Erie'' 3 August 2021</ref>

However, his record as AG isn't entirely good. He cast the fewest votes in favor of commutation on the state's Board of Pardons,<ref>[https://penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/fetterman-shapiro-say-they-both-believe-in-second-chances-pardons-board-votes-tell-two-different-stories/ Fetterman, Shapiro say they both believe in second chances. Pardons board votes tell two different stories] by Elizabeth Hardison (24 January 2020) ''Pennsylvania Capital-Star''.</ref> something Senator John Fetterman (who, as lieutenant governor, was on the Board of Pardons at the time) would criticize him for.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/03/fetterman-shapiro-harris-vp-00172557 Fetterman has concerns about Shapiro for VP, aides tell Harris’ team], Holly Otterbein, ''Politico'' 3 August 2024</ref> He also favored enforcing the state's anti-BDS ([[Boycott]], Divestment and Sanctions) laws on ice cream manufacturer Ben and Jerry's after they decided to stop selling to illegal [[Israel]]i settlements in the [[West Bank]].<ref>[https://delawarevalleyjournal.com/garrity-shapiro-back-anti-bds-action-against-ben-jerrys/ Garrity, Shapiro Back Anti-BDS Action Against Ben & Jerry’s], Linda Stein, ''Delaware Valley Journal'' 21 July 2021</ref>

==Governorship==
His governorship got off to a rough start when he appointed {{wpl|Mike Vereb}} (a [[Republican]] no less)<ref>[https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=1122 Michael A. Vereb], ''Pennsylvania House of Representatives''</ref> as his Secretary of Legislative Affairs. Already a questionable appointment, this severely backfired on him when Vereb was accused of sexual harassment; the case was settled for $295,000 with a non-disclosure agreement,<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-josh-shapiro-aide-sexual-harassment-296d605f3533ca7a38e9f2983e533059 Pennsylvania governor’s office settles for $295K a former staffer’s claim senior aide harassed her], Brooke Schultz, ''AP News'' 20 October 2023</ref> which resulted in him being accused of [[coverup|covering the situation up]].<ref>[https://thespectator.com/politics/josh-shapiro-sexual-harassment-cover-up-scandal-actually-quite-bad/ The Josh Shapiro sexual harassment cover-up scandal is actually quite bad], Amber Duke, ''The Spectator'' 4 August 2024</ref>

He supported [[school vouchers]] to fund private schools, something that put him at odds with the Democratic-controlled state house.<ref>[https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/gov-josh-shapiro-calls-for-passage-of-budget-bill-without-agreement-on-school-choice-program.html Gov. Josh Shapiro calls for passage of budget bill without agreement on school choice program], Charles Thompson, ''Penn Live'' 5 July 2023</ref> After that failed, he did at least support a boost in funding for [[public school]]s (this time facing opposition from the Republican-controlled state senate).<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-public-schools-josh-shapiro-governor-ef8667bbf488ae7e9196c65881439c2b Gov. Shapiro seeks school-funding boost to help poorer districts, but Republicans remain wary], Marc Levy, ''Associated Press'' 8 February 2024</ref>

It's not all bad, though. He received national attention for his effective response to the {{wpl|2023 Interstate 95 highway collapse||,}} getting the highway reopened less than two weeks after the accident.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/heavily-traveled-i-95-is-set-to-reopen-less-than-two-weeks-after-deadly-collapse-in-philadelphia Heavily traveled I-95 reopens less than 2 weeks after deadly collapse in Philadelphia], Colleen Long, ''PBS'' 23 June 2023</ref> He ended state funding of the "Real Alternatives" [[crisis pregnancy center]].<ref>[https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/shapiro-terminates-state-funding-for-real-alternatives-anti-abortion-centers-in-pa/ Shapiro terminates state funding for Real Alternatives anti-abortion centers in Pa.], Cassie Miller, ''Pennsylvania Capital Star'' 4 August 2023</ref> He also implemented automatic voter registration in the state.<ref>[https://www.pa.gov/en/governor/newsroom/press-releases/governor-shapiro-implements-automatic-voter-registration-in-penn.html Governor Shapiro Implements Automatic Voter Registration in Pennsylvania, Joining Bipartisan Group of States That Have Taken Commonsense Step to Make Voter Registration More Streamlined and Secure], ''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'' 19 September 2023</ref>

His being considered for the vice presidency led to increased attention on his views on [[Palestine]]. When he was twenty years old, he wrote in an op-ed for his college newspaper, "Palestinians will not coexist peacefully. They do not have the capabilities to establish their own homeland and make it successful even with the aid of Israel and the United States. They are too battle-minded to be able to establish a peaceful homeland of their own." However, he says he no longer stands by these views and supports a two-state solution,<ref>[https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/josh-shapiro-israel-gaza-peace-column-vice-president-20240802.html Josh Shapiro once wrote that peace ‘will never come’ to the Middle East. He says his views have changed over 30 years.], Anna Orso, ''The Philadelphia Enquirer'' 2 August 2024</ref> and in January 2024 he called [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] "one of the worst leaders of all time".<ref>[https://politicalwire.com/2024/01/13/josh-shapiro-says-netanyahu-is-one-of-the-worst/ Josh Shapiro Says Netanyahu Is ‘One of the Worst’], Taegan Goddard, ''Taegan Goddard's Political Wire'' 13 January 2024</ref> He also volunteered for the Israeli army, though according to him it was just a high school service project in an army base and he was not "engaged in any military activities".<ref>[https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/josh-shapiros-israel-army-volunteer-work-scrutiny-harris-vp-decision-looms US: Josh Shapiro's 'volunteer' work for Israeli army scrutinised as Harris eyes VP nod], Umar A Farooq, ''Middle East Eye'' 5 August 2024</ref> He also didn't really endear himself to the pro-Palestine crowd when he compared pro-Palestine student protesters to the [[KKK]].<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/4/where-bidens-potential-democratic-replacements-stand-on-the-gaza-war Where Biden’s potential Democratic replacements stand on the Gaza war], Ali Harb, ''Al Jazeera'' 4 July 2024</ref>

==Notes==
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==References==
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[[Category:Jews]]
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[[Category:United States Governors]]
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Categories: Jews, Lawyers, Liberals, Living people, United States Governors, United States politicians