Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Spotlight: Here's what Gov. Tom Wolf will be remembered for
TYGER WILLIAMS / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
(link)https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-tom-wolf-josh-shapiro-legacy-education-spending-covid-business-shutdowns/
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf began and ended his eight years in the state’s top job with the same mantra: He was not a conventional politician.
Talk to his allies and opponents, and that reputation rings true in at least one way: The Democrat never demonstrated the enthusiasm for backroom dealmaking or hands-on horse-trading that some previous governors did.
“That part of the job was the thing he saw as a challenge,” said political observer and good-government advocate David Thornburgh, whose father was governor of Pennsylvania in the 1980s. That approach, in many ways, served Wolf well.
As he prepares to hand the reins of government to Democrat Josh Shapiro, Wolf leaves behind a long list of policy wins, from boosting education funding to legalizing medical marijuana.
Talk to his allies and opponents, and that reputation rings true in at least one way: The Democrat never demonstrated the enthusiasm for backroom dealmaking or hands-on horse-trading that some previous governors did.
“That part of the job was the thing he saw as a challenge,” said political observer and good-government advocate David Thornburgh, whose father was governor of Pennsylvania in the 1980s. That approach, in many ways, served Wolf well.
As he prepares to hand the reins of government to Democrat Josh Shapiro, Wolf leaves behind a long list of policy wins, from boosting education funding to legalizing medical marijuana.
- more at link -
Thank you Governor Tom Wolf! You fought the demons and pulled us through the darkness.
You've handled the job well for 8 years, and you've earned your time off.
Josh Shapiro will carry on from here.
We Pennsylvanians are forever grateful for your leadership and your service.
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
that Wolf broke Rendell's record for granting pardons!
Gov. Tom Wolf tops Pennsylvania record of pardons granted
January 12, 2023 / 7:39 PM / AP
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has issued more than twice the amount of pardons granted by any of his predecessors, with at least a quarter of them targeting non-violent marijuana offenses, his administration announced Thursday.
Wolf, a Democrat, signed his final 369 pardons this week, for a total of 2,540 since he took office in 2015. He surpassed Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's record of 1,122 granted pardons.
Of the pardons, 395 were part of the expedited review process for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. Another 232 were part of the PA Marijuana Pardon Project, which accepted applications through the month of September.
"I have taken this process very seriously — reviewing and giving careful thought to each and every one of these 2,540 pardons and the lives they will impact," Wolf said in a statement. "Every single one of the Pennsylvanians who made it through the process truly deserves their second chance, and it's been my honor to grant it."
(snip)
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/gov-tom-wolf-pennsylvania-record-pardons-granted/
January 12, 2023 / 7:39 PM / AP
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has issued more than twice the amount of pardons granted by any of his predecessors, with at least a quarter of them targeting non-violent marijuana offenses, his administration announced Thursday.
Wolf, a Democrat, signed his final 369 pardons this week, for a total of 2,540 since he took office in 2015. He surpassed Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's record of 1,122 granted pardons.
Of the pardons, 395 were part of the expedited review process for nonviolent marijuana-related offenses. Another 232 were part of the PA Marijuana Pardon Project, which accepted applications through the month of September.
"I have taken this process very seriously — reviewing and giving careful thought to each and every one of these 2,540 pardons and the lives they will impact," Wolf said in a statement. "Every single one of the Pennsylvanians who made it through the process truly deserves their second chance, and it's been my honor to grant it."
(snip)
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/gov-tom-wolf-pennsylvania-record-pardons-granted/
As milquetoast as his demeanor was, he was never a pushover and could slice and dice with the best of them. He just didn't get bombastic about it.
He came at the right moment and broke a precedent that needed to be broken - keeping a GOP governor to 1-term!!!!
And I'll never forget this great ad
-
I'm sure that raised his total number by some.
and that was good. He doubled the previous highest number. 