Over the past several weeks, we have seen great turbulence in our national political landscape. Our nation’s electorate will now see the most liberal major party candidate in living memory as the presumptive Democratic Party’s nominee for the presidency of the United States, Kamala Harris. She has an audacious task to complete by August 7 — the selection of her running mate. 

The rumor mill is rife with speculation and here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we’ve all heard rumblings that the Harris campaign has their eyes set on our governor, Josh Shapiro, as a potential vice president.

I’m surprised and would encourage the Harris campaign to take a deeper dive into his record. As a woman serving in the Senate of Pennsylvania, I have a unique perspective on Gov.  Shapiro gleaned from my work to deliver on the promise of Pennsylvania. In that work, I have learned that it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you don’t worry about who gets the credit; style is nice but substance matters; and that in politics, you’re only as good as your word.

A decision as consequential as the selection of a running mate needs to be thoroughly vetted. You wouldn’t buy a new home without an inspection, and you wouldn’t purchase a new car without taking it out for a test drive.

Gov. Shapiro is a politician whose reputation outpaces his substance. In his time as governor, Shapiro has flip-flopped on key issues like regressive taxes on hard-working Pennsylvanians, swept credible sexual harassment allegations under the rug, denigrated female colleagues, and broke his promise to rescue some of our most vulnerable children who are trapped in failing schools.

As his record from the State House, to the County Seat, to the Attorney General’s office, to the Governor’s Mansion has shown, career politician Josh Shapiro will change his tune and shred his campaign promises quickly when it is politically expedient. That has always been his playbook.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a costly energy tax that will hit middle class Pennsylvanians the hardest. Gov. Shapiro originally stated he was “skeptical“ about it in an effort to earn the support of trade unions, and rightfully so. RGGI not only increases electricity bills for working families and small businesses, it will kill high-quality, family-sustaining jobs.

When a state appellate court decided RGGI was unconstitutional, Gov. Shapiro had an opportunity to stand with Pennsylvanians. Instead, he chose to appeal that decision, breaking his promise. In order to predict Shapiro‘s position on an issue on any given day, you just have to know what is politically expedient for him at that time. And when it comes to defending your wallet, Josh Shapiro isn’t concerned with what you pay because after all, as a career politician he’s only ever signed the back of the check.

One of the hallmarks of good government is transparency. Unfortunately, it has not been a hallmark of the Shapiro administration. When the governor’s top staffer was credibly accused of sexual harassment in the workplace, Shapiro was slow to react. He left the individual in question in his role for six months and released conflicting timelines of events. In the end, there was a taxpayer funded settlement of $295,000. The terms of the agreement were ultimately kept quiet, leading to more questions and greater concerns for other women who work for the Shapiro administration.

In light of the misconduct and attempted cover-up, I joined fellow female legislators on both sides of the aisle to champion bipartisan legislation that would increase transparency and make sure that every woman in the workplace is valued and feels safe in the future.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only blemish on Gov. Shapiro‘s record with women. He belittled Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward — the first female to hold the highest ranking position in the State Senate — when she called for greater transparency during the investigation of the sexual harassment allegations. When the governor was questioned by reporters about Sen. Ward’s comments, he quipped, “consider the source” in an attempt to diminish her credibility. In fact, he met with several female lawmakers on this issue and left them only with further questions and little information.

Countless women in our Commonwealth and country have encountered sexual harassment in the workplace and similarly have had their credibility questioned. The governor’s actions are not acceptable. Even the Democratic Party’s candidate for state treasurer is not backing Gov. Shapiro for Vice President because she wants a candidate who doesn’t “sweep sexual harassment under the rug.”

I have experienced firsthand how the governor treats women. When he was attorney general, Josh Shapiro did not like the “tone” of my line of questioning during a Senate public hearing. In retrospect, I don’t believe it was the tone of my question, but the substance of my question that then-Attorney General Shapiro had a problem with. It is hard to envision a similar scenario where he would have publicly questioned a male legislator’s tone. But one thing is crystal clear: Governor Shapiro has a problem working with strong, independent women.

Ironically, although he has a problem working with strong, independent women, he has no problem taking credit for the work that we do. Governor Shapiro would have you think that improving screening and treatment for women with breast cancer, reforming Pennsylvania’s step therapy and prior authorization challenges, ensuring feminine hygiene products are available for students are all his accomplishments. In fact, these new laws are the result of the hard work of female legislators on both sides of the aisle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

But the Shapiro decision that will have the longest, most damaging consequence is his broken promise to the children of the Commonwealth and the destruction of the reputation of his word. Last year, the governor struck an agreement with Senate Republicans to fund Lifeline Scholarships in the state budget. These scholarships were targeted to lift up low-income children trapped in failing public schools. This critical program would empower parents and help these students find the platform for their future success through better educational opportunities.

This was an issue that Gov. Shapiro campaigned on, but he broke his promise. He capitulated to special interest groups and walked away from a bipartisan agreement. This devastating setback for those students who desperately needed a lifeline to a better future will be felt for their lifetime.

At every step and turn when he had the opportunity to deliver on the promise of Pennsylvania, whether it be to defend the wallets of hard-working Pennsylvanians, support skilled trade workers, empower women in the workplace, or provide opportunities for our state’s most vulnerable children, Josh Shapiro chose his political ambition and future, and went back on his word.

Fortunately for Vice President Kamala Harris, she has a long list of potential vice presidential candidates because talk is cheap for Governor Shapiro. He will say anything to get elected, even if he doesn’t mean what he says.

Kristin Phillips-Hill represents Pennsylvania’s 28th Senate District