May 28, 2021Yong Kim / Philadelphia InquirerMark Zuckerberg helped some Pa. counties survive the 2020 election. Right-wing lawmakers say that was unfair.by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAMore than 20 Pennsylvania counties turned to private philanthropy when it became apparent the Republican-led General Assembly wasn’t going to help them cover COVID-related expenses.
May 26, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer‘Internal systemic failures’ led to Wolf administration blunder that derailed child sex abuse amendmentby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe report by the state inspector general’s office concluded that there was no evidence that the administration’s mistake was deliberate or the result of “intentional malfeasance.”
May 25, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerNewly empowered, Pa. GOP lawmakers move to end parts of Wolf’s coronavirus disaster orderby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf called the vote “a discouraging development” following a “productive meeting with the legislature” after the May 18 primary, when voters backed curtailing his powers.
May 21, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesLawmakers report receiving fewer gifts during pandemic as push for ban continuesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe few gifts of note came largely before the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Pennsylvania in early March.
May 19, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAExperts say Pa.’s 2021 primary was typical, but GOP lawmakers are seizing on issuesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PARoutine poll issues, some mail-ballot snafus, and low turnout were all par for the course of a normal election.
May 19, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesVoters back curtailing Wolf’s emergency powers in win for GOP lawmakersby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe votes represent a victory for Republican lawmakers in what is widely seen as a referendum on the Wolf administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
May 13, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerSome Pa. lawmakers tout expense transparency. Their websites tell a different story.by Sam Janesch of The CaucusJust 29 of the 253 full-time lawmakers in Pennsylvania post some information online about how they spend taxpayer dollars in their duties, despite many proclaiming, “It’s Your Money.”
May 12, 2021CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerInside the year-long fight to figure out how the Pa. legislature spends taxpayer money on itselfby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch Of The CaucusBy early 2021, reporters had filed more than two dozen records requests resulting in tens of thousands of pages of expense reports and, in some cases, actual receipts.
May 12, 2021Leise Hook / For Spotlight PATaxpayers foot huge bill to run Pa.’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many detailsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch of The CaucusA web of expense accounts, few reporting requirements, and questionable claims of “legislative privilege” help keep lawmaker spending obscured — and the public in the dark.
May 11, 2021Fred Adams / Spotlight PAIndependents can vote on ballot questions, and more things to know about the May 18 primaryby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PASpotlight PA answers your questions about controversial constitutional amendments, judicial races, and more.
May 4, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesOne ritzy fundraiser shows how tough selling lobbying reform in Pa. will beby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The CaucusA campaign event for Jake Corman, the top Republican in the state Senate, is being organized by a company that has cornered the market on a political practice he wants to end.
May 3, 2021Charles Fox / Philadelphia InquirerAre Pa.’s state House and Senate maps gerrymandered? Depends on how you measure them.by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile a court declared Pennsylvania's previous congressional map was drawn to benefit Republicans, the current legislative maps have not faced the same level of scrutiny.
April 30, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAPa. Supreme Court will pick chair of powerful state redistricting panelby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe decision was handed to the majority-Democrat court after the top leaders in the House and Senate deadlocked on picking a fifth member.
April 26, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania will lose a U.S. House seat after redistrictingby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe widely expected loss of one of the state's 18 congressional districts sets up a high-stakes redistricting process.
April 21, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesRelief for child sex abuse survivors revived in Pa. Senate after Wolf administration errorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe bill is advancing despite long-standing objections by some Republicans who believe such a change can only legally be made by amending the state constitution.
April 20, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAKey GOP lawmaker eyes photo ID, signature matching as Pa. considers voting changesby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAElection officials were impressed by 10 state House oversight hearings, but it's still unclear if lawmakers will embrace their recommendations.
April 19, 2021TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerYour guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questionsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAVoters will be asked to settle a contentious dispute between the Wolf administration and the GOP-controlled legislature about the governor's executive powers.
April 6, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAThe deciding vote in Pa.’s high-stakes political redistricting could be yours, if lawmakers agreeby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAFour of Pennsylvania’s most powerful lawmakers are accepting applications to chair the redistricting commission, and advocates are hoping for independence.
April 5, 2021KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerGroup of GOP lawmakers seek to ban Pa.’s transgender student athletes from playing women's sportsby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe proposal is part of a nationwide wave of legislation advocates say has the potential to harm transgender children and adults, especially amid the ongoing pandemic.
April 2, 2021Courtesy Sen. Dan Laughlin's officePa. cannabis legalization remains unlikely as neighboring states go for itby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAFor Pennsylvania to legalize cannabis, the idea would need to gain backing among the Republican lawmakers who control both the state House and Senate.
April 1, 2021Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PASenate GOP leaders tap well-connected Pa. political operative to lead campaign armby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of The CaucusThe move further solidifies the influence of lobbyist Ray Zaborney, who, with his wife, runs a trio of companies that help elect public officials, then lobby them once in office.
March 26, 2021CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerHow being sick could result in even stiffer penalties for spitting on Pa. policeby Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PAThe bill specifically names HIV, even though the virus is not spread through saliva.
March 23, 2021Jessica GriffinBallot questions should be clear, but two written by the Wolf administration don’t pass the testby Sarah Anne HughesTwo proposals that will be before voters this May have drawn the ire of Republican leaders in the state House and Senate, who called language written by the Wolf administration "prejudicial."
March 22, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer PhotograpChild sex abuse survivors in Pa. denied legal relief as emergency effort failsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA Wolf administration blunder derailed a traditional constitutional amendment to provide legal relief for survivors of child sex abuse, leading lawmakers to pursue the emergency option.
March 17, 2021MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerHopes dim that Pa. lawmakers will push through emergency relief for clergy abuse victimsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA proposed constitutional amendment was derailed by “human error” within Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, leading lawmakers to pursue the rarely used, emergency tactic.
March 15, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesDuring height of coronavirus pandemic, Pa. lawmakers still cashed in big on meals, lodgingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThey collected $726,877 from taxpayers in per diem payments, in addition to being among the highest paid in the country. House Democrats received the most.
March 12, 2021Courtesy of Nemacolin Woodlands ResortAs pandemic continues, GOP lawmakers prepare for retreat at pricey ‘Bachelor’ resortby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe legislative retreats, the cost of which lawmakers can cover using campaign funds, come as Pennsylvania continues to operate under a bevy of coronavirus-related restrictions.
March 11, 2021Commonwealth Media Services5 things to know about the minimum wage debate in Pa.by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAWhile Republican support for raising the minimum wage was already low, the pandemic makes it even less likely to change.
March 2, 2021Kent M. Wilhelm / For Spotlight PATop Pa. senator appoints colleague’s wife to lucrative Gaming Control Board seatby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASenate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman named Frances Regan, the wife of Sen. Mike Regan, to serve a two-year term on the board, which comes with a $145,000 annual salary.
March 1, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesThe placeholder: Meet the man Wolf taps to (temporarily) hold key appointmentsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAIn less than four months, the top staffer in Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has been nominated to serve on 28 different state-appointed boards.
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