Yesterday it was announced that Stan Shapiro had taken over the leadership of the Philly Chamber of Commerce:

The chamber's singular - and highly public - goal in recent years has been to browbeat City Hall into sticking with a schedule of cuts in business taxes.

But Cohen is pledging a new direction for his turn at the chairman post. Philadelphia is facing its most severe financial crisis since the early Rendell years. Mayor Nutter has said the five-year city deficit could reach $850 million.

Continued tax cuts for businesses probably shouldn't even be asked for, Cohen said.

He will call instead for the chamber to lobby Harrisburg legislators to boost state taxpayer funding for public education, which, Cohen said, eventually will improve the region's economic competitiveness.

.....

"Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is absolutely essential for our businesses," Cohen said of boosting education funding. The chamber "cannot pursue an exclusively business agenda. We have to have a broader view of the vitality of the region and work in partnership with the government."

OK, it isn't Stan, it is David Cohen, Ed Rendell's former Chief of Staff (and effectively co-Mayor), current executive at Comcast, and all around powerful dude. And Cohen has told them that they shouldn't ask for more tax cuts, 'cause they need to focus on funding education? If David Cohen can make this happen, I will hereby accept the always lovable Comcast and its crappy customer service, high prices, and monopoly on our sports.

The Chamber of Commerce in Philly has done some good things- like fund IssuesPA. And, despite their constant push for tax cuts and donating money to people at questionable times, they are in no way as retrograde as their national Chamber of Commerce counterparts. (The national Chamber is run by a corrupt guy, and is doing things like spending a couple hundred thousand dollars against a soon to be progressive Congresswoman.)

Anyway, this will be interesting to follow. It could be nothing. Or it could be a really, really big deal.