Pennsylvania's state Senate has passed a constitutional amendment package that would ratchet up voter ID requirements, make it easier for lawmakers to override a governor's regulations, and create a two-year lookback window for lawsuits involving childhood sex abuse.

The AP says the package — passed Wednesday with support from one Democrat, state Sen. Lisa Boscola of Lehigh County — could pose a veto-proof challenge for Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro, especially the provision that would give lawmakers more leverage to axe regulations written by the executive branch agencies he oversees.

The proposed amendments could go before voters — who have the final say — as soon as May, but the omnibus bill that contains them faces an uphill climb in the narrowly divided state House, where members of both parties oppose combining the abuse amendment with controversial GOP priorities, like tougher voter ID, and where operations are at a standstill.

The amendments must pass by Jan. 27 to reach voters this spring. 

THE CONTEXT: Wednesday's Senate vote comes days after the start of a special legislative session convened by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in hopes of seeing the proposed abuse amendment passed.

That amendment would temporarily lift the statute of limitations on lawsuits brought by victims of childhood sex abuse against the perpetrators. 

But the session quickly stalled in the state House, with Democratic and Republican leaders unable to agree on ground rules that need to be adopted before any legislation can pass through the chamber. 

House members were sent home without taking a single vote Monday and the chamber recessed indefinitely amid a vow by Speaker Mark Rozzi (D., Berks) to convene a working group to chart a path forward.

"Did you just call me a prick?"

—Judge Elliot Howsie to Allegheny County Councilor Bethany Hallam; a vote to consider censuring Hallam failed Tuesday but could come up again

Big butter, as seen by my father (Larry D.) at the Pennsylvania Farm Show on Wednesday. Send us your Pennsylvania pictures by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.

CAPITOL CALL: The Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association is taking applications for the 2023 summer reporting internship at the state Capitol. Email a resume, cover letter, and five work samples in one PDF or word doc to internship co-chair Stephen Caruso (scaruso@spotlightpa.org) by Feb. 12, or reach out with any questions.

FUNERAL SERVICE: More than 1,000 police officers from around the state gathered in New Kensington on Wednesday for the funeral of slain Brackenridge police Chief Justin McIntire, TribLIVE reports. A "final call" on emergency dispatch for McIntire went out that afternoon.

'GARB STATUTE': Pennsylvania's decades-old garb statute, which bans the wearing of religious emblems by teachers and some other public school workers, is getting another look from state lawmakers who will try to get rid of the law for the third time, the Morning Call (paywall) reports.

PIPES DOWN: Miles of pipes visible along Front Street in Harrisburg are carrying sewage and storm water away to enable underground infrastructure fixes and prevent more pollution of the Susquehanna River.

BIG WHOOPS: What makes a whoopie pie an award-winning whoopie pie? Guest Pennsylvania Farm Show judge Stephanie Speiche of Lancaster Farming says it's taste, texture, appearance, and creativity.