Tom DiBello: Pennsylvania’s needs real solutions to decline, not photo-ops

As Montgomery County Commissioner, I am committed to a prosperous future for our commonwealth. Yet the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings deliver a sobering verdict: Pennsylvania ranks a dismal 43rd among states, falling behind in critical areas like economy, infrastructure, and fiscal stability. Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership, our state is slipping, while he chases headlines and eyes higher office. Montgomery County residents deserve real leadership to reverse this decline and address our state’s challenges.

The U.S. News rankings, which evaluate states on factors like economy, infrastructure, and opportunity, show Pennsylvania losing ground to its peers. Instead of tackling systemic issues, Shapiro prioritizes media attention, seemingly more focused on building his national profile than serving Pennsylvanians. Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward has sharply criticized his fiscal approach, stating, “The budget proposed by Governor Shapiro is short-sighted and irresponsible. Instead of a budget that puts us on sound financial footing, we were given one that spends more than it makes, is based on unrealistic estimates, and leaves our Rainy Day Fund and General Fund balance completely empty in less than two short years.” 

This critique underscores Shapiro’s preference for short-term political wins over long-term stability.

Shapiro’s inconsistency is evident in his flip-flop on school choice. Before his election, Shapiro championed private school choice, including it in his education platform and benefiting from it personally, having attended private school and sent his children to one. Yet in 2023, he vetoed a school choice program in the state budget, denying Pennsylvania families the options they deserve. This reversal prioritizes politics over families in Montgomery County and beyond, who seek greater educational freedom.

Shapiro’s energy policies further exemplify his misguided priorities. 

His commitment to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and his proposed Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER) impose a carbon tax on power plants, threatening to raise utility bills by up to 30 percent while stifling Pennsylvania’s energy sector. Despite claims that PACER will save ratepayers money, it risks job losses and increased costs for families, mirroring the flawed cap-and-trade model he defends in court. Pennsylvania, a leader in natural gas production, should unleash this industry to drive economic growth and energy independence, not burden it with taxes that prioritize Shapiro’s liberal environmental posturing over practical economic benefits.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is another case in point. Facing a $213 million deficit, SEPTA risks cutting services by 45 percent and raising fares by 20 percent. Shapiro’s solution — diverting $153 million from the Federal Highway Fund — jeopardizes our roads and bridges while failing to address SEPTA’s inefficiencies. Montgomery County residents, who rely on SEPTA to connect to Philadelphia’s economic hub, deserve structural reforms to ensure sustainable transit, not temporary cash infusions for headlines.

From crumbling infrastructure to an economy struggling to compete, Pennsylvania’s 43rd-place ranking demands bold action. Shapiro’s focus on publicity stunts and higher office ambitions leaves these issues unaddressed. Montgomery County cannot afford leadership distracted by personal gain. As your Commissioner, I will fight for policies that strengthen infrastructure and improve transportation. Governor Shapiro must move beyond news conferences and embrace reforms that prioritize Pennsylvania’s future.

Let’s demand accountability and a commonwealth that rises in the rankings. Together, we can build a stronger Montgomery County and Pennsylvania.

Tom DiBello, a Republican Montgomery County Commissioner, leverages his strong business background to champion common-sense solutions and drive results-oriented improvements in county government.