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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: Remote votes, prison interview, no nutrition, grants given, baby boosters, deficit report, and a Pa. representative remembered. |
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In April, while state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia) was absent from the Pennsylvania House due to an arrest warrant, he voted by designation on multiple bills. This virtual voting was allowed under current state House rules, which date back to March 2020 when the then-GOP-controlled chamber adopted the practice to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. But Republican leaders strongly objected to their Democratic counterparts voting on Boyle’s behalf while he was absent. Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) argued that with Boyle’s location uncertain, bills that passed by only one vote could be subject to legal challenges and that Democrats had made a “results-oriented decision,” not a procedurally sound one. The warrant was revoked less than a week after it was issued, but the issue highlights longstanding friction over remote voting.
Read Spotlight PA's full report: The COVID pandemic let Pa. House lawmakers vote remotely. The GOP says it’s time to restrict that rule. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
“I’m not trying to fault anybody here. Just, please, bring me home.”
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Our deadline of 11:59 p.m. Saturday looms large and we're still short. But I know we can do this — make your generous gift to Spotlight PA now and lock in your DOUBLE match before it expires.
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Spotlight PA will soon launch a new weekly newsletter focused on caregiving and caregivers across Pennsylvania. Every Tuesday, "How We Care" will feature original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life, the huge economic and policy questions ahead, and how it's affecting the lives of millions of people across the state. You can sign up for How We Care here. |
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SETTLEMENT STRATEGY: Join us Thursday, May 30, from 6-7 p.m. ET on Zoom for a free panel on how counties are using their opioid settlement funds, and what influences these decisions. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org. |
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| A sunset in Gettysburg, via Jane L. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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  UNHEALTHY EATING: The food bill for Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections has fallen since the 1990s, but a report released this month found the dip stems from feeding poor-quality food to inmates, The Inquirer (paywall) reports. The agency challenged the findings, saying only three of its 24 institutions were surveyed.  GRANTS AWARDED: The state’s Department of Environmental Protection is giving nearly $1 million to 56 programs across the state that promote environmental education and stewardship, StateImpact reports. This year’s projects range from running summer camps to helping people protect their homes from stormwater. See the full list of grants.  PRONATALISTS PROFILED: The Guardian profiles Valley Forge residents Simone and Malcolm Collins, leading figures in the pronatalism movement. The right-leaning movement advocates for people to have more children to counter declining birth rates, and is backed by big names in tech such as Elon Musk and Sam Bankman-Fried. Simone Collins is currently running for Pennsylvania House District 150.  DEFICIT WATCH: Lancaster city will face a $10 million deficit next year if there are no changes to its revenue or expenses, LancasterOnline | LNP reports. A financial consultant said the deficit could widen if the city does not increase property taxes, cut staff, or adopt a home charter rule. Rising health care costs and the loss of federal funding are also factors. |
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| 🤔 NEXT QUESTION: Are you on top of the news? Prove it with the latest edition of the Great PA News Quiz: A new state slogan, northern exposure, budget-breakers, and the NFL Draft. |
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HOT, HOT, HOT Our exclusive 'All Sun, No Shade' beach towels are HOT!
Bold and thick, get ready for Memorial Day with this exclusive Spotlight PA swag. But hurry! Once they're gone, they're gone for the year. SHOP NOW > |
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Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag. Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be counted. R E P S E S O S
Friday's answer: Downcast
Congrats to our weekly winner: Millie M.
Congrats to our daily winners: Beth H., Jill M., Vicki U., Bob C., John P., Tracy S., Marc G., Lynne E., Marty M., Barbara F., Phyllis K., Jon W., Stacy S., Jane R., Sandie W., John H., Leann T., Anne Z., Eric F., Elaine C., Jill M., Mary H., Connie K., Joanne K., Jody A., Karen W., Daniel M., Julie L., Cynthia B., Connie O., Annette I., Georgann J., Rosemary C., Alan B., Jim A., John W., Michael B., Don H., Ted W., Cyndi S., Perry H., William Z., Mary S., Judith D., Karyl S., Stanley J., Michael K., Adrien M., Jeffrey F., Mike H., Kimberly D., Leslie B., Paul K., Tish M., Marie B., Wendy A., Tom M., Perry H., John C., Amelia M., Daniel S., Sue X., David M., Kevin M., Sue L., Joseph M., and Cynthia M.
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