Nov. 27, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPresident Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent.by William Bender of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAPresident Donald Trump summoned state lawmakers to the White House to talk about the election, but those who went weren't talking about it later.
Nov. 20, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerPa. budget doesn’t raise taxes or bail out industries hit by the coronavirusby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAHouse lawmakers were forced to vote remotely after additional COVID-19 cases were identified in the Capitol, sources said.
Nov. 20, 2020Joe Hermitt / The Patriot-NewsPa. lawmaker claims Capitol unsafe after fifth member tests positive for COVID-19by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PARep. Jim Gregory (R., Blair) announced Thursday evening he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Nov. 19, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerRemaining $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash to prop up Pa. state budget rather than help ailing industriesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe action comes after outside groups like restaurants and hospitals have for months urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to use more of the relief funds to support them.
Nov. 19, 2020Kalim A. Bhatti / The Philadelphia InquirerWith $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash left to spend, the Pa. government might be the big winnerby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAA long line of service providers and industries — including restaurant owners — are still seeking coronavirus bailouts, but increasingly fear the cash might go toward the state’s budget.
Nov. 18, 2020Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. GOP advances audit of 2020 election, says it’s not about fraudby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA resolution tasks a bipartisan committee that holds subpoena power with compiling a report on issues and “inconsistencies,” and hiring a firm to audit the vote.
Nov. 18, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. victim advocate claims Senate rejection was ‘vindictive,’ could remain on the job for weeks or longerby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAJennifer Storm is considering legal options after the top Senate Republican publicly revealed she’s under an ethics inquiry.
Nov. 18, 2020Senate Republican CaucusTwo women just made history in the Pa. legislature. Will that be the last thing they have in common?by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PASen. Kim Ward, a Republican, is the first woman to become majority leader in the General Assembly’s history, while Democratic Rep. Joanna McClinton will be the first Black woman to lead a caucus.
Nov. 16, 2020Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerSenate axes second term for Pa.'s victim advocate, who angered GOP leaderby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA handful of Democrats joined Republicans in voting against Jennifer Storm, saying she had not advocated for victims in Philadelphia and other communities of color.
Nov. 16, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerFeds reject Pa.’s plan to spend up to $300M in stimulus money for school property tax reliefby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PASchool districts are still owed millions and have already passed budgets and set tax rates, putting more pressure on lawmakers in Harrisburg to come up with a solution.
Nov. 12, 2020STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia InquirerTop Pa. senator’s campaign revives lawsuit against journalists over public records feesby Mike Wereschagin of The CaucusThe campaign of Sen. Joe Scarnati is appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking thousands of dollars in fees for providing records of campaign expenses to a Spotlight PA journalist and others.
Oct. 9, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Republicans drop effort to create ‘election integrity’ panel with subpoena powerby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAAlarmed state Democratic lawmakers previously called the proposal a “stealth attack” on voting.
Oct. 8, 2020DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerHouse GOP leadership calls on lawmaker to resign over vulgar videosby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAIn a since-deleted social media post, Rep. Aaron Bernstine is heard urging his son to smoke a cigar, telling him to “hit it harder, breathe in.”
Oct. 8, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerLawmakers mount new push to give Pa. counties more flexibility in counting mail-in ballotsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PACounty election officials say it’s the number one issue standing between them and a timely counting of votes: allowing them to begin processing mail-in ballots before Nov. 3.
Oct. 7, 2020Steven M. Falk / Philadelphia InquirerJudge dismisses suit by top Pa. senator’s campaign against Spotlight PA journalist, othersby Mike Wereschagin of The CaucusSen. Joe Scarnati sought thousands of dollars for turning over public records of his campaign expenses.
Sept. 30, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Republicans want to create and control an ‘election integrity’ panel with subpoena powerby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe move comes a day after President Donald Trump fanned manufactured claims of election fraud. Alarmed state Democratic lawmakers called it a “stealth attack” on voting.
Sept. 28, 2020Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerHow Pa.'s victim advocate found herself in the crosshairs of the GOP-led Senateby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PARepublicans who control the Senate have pushed a proposal that would effectively make Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm ineligible to remain on the job.
Sept. 25, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerCould the Pa. GOP bypass the popular vote regardless of who wins? Here’s what we know.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe head of the state Republican Party raised the possibility that the GOP-controlled legislature could choose a slate of presidential electors to cast the state’s votes for Donald Trump.
Sept. 22, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerLawmakers' power to redraw Pa.'s political maps could be more limited in 2021by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA bill advancing in the state Senate would set strict criteria for drawing congressional and legislative maps, and make underlying data available for analysis.
Sept. 18, 2020TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerVoting victories for Democrats in Pa. might have closed the door on more election reformby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAElection boards want to start processing mail-in ballots before Election Day, but such a move would require cooperation between the Democratic governor and Republican leaders.
Sept. 16, 2020STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia InquirerTop Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costsby Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PASen. Joseph Scarnati's campaign is seeking thousands of dollars from a news organization and two journalists, even though a state agency says he's not entitled to collect the fees.
Sept. 14, 2020JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerTop Pa. GOP lawmaker taps politically connected lobbyist to be chief of staffby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of The CaucusThe lobbyist, recently hired by Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, worked for the firm that runs the lawmaker’s political campaigns.
Aug. 25, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Tom Wolf wants Pa. to legalize marijuana, provide more COVID-19 relief this fallby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is still sitting on $1 billion provided through the federal CARES Act, as legislative leaders wait to see if Congress will pass another relief bill.
July 9, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerEverything you need to know about Pa. police reform efforts by the legislatureby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf plans to sign two reform measures, including one that would create a confidential police misconduct database.
July 8, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerLawmakers will rule again over redrawing of Pa. political boundaries, but critics aren’t giving upby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAWhile an effort to create an independent commission to draw the state’s congressional and legislative maps has run out of time, a new bill would increase transparency and ban the most egregious practices.
July 3, 2020Paul Vasiliades / FlickrIn Pa.’s growing fireworks war, it’s fed-up residents versus cold, hard cashby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAWith sales booming and complaints pouring in, some lawmakers want to reinstate a ban, but the state desperately needs the tax revenue.
June 24, 2020ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia InquirerEffort to track police use of force in Pa. would lack racial data, public transparencyby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to require use-of-force tracking and reporting, but critics contend it falls short of broader efforts elsewhere.
June 23, 2020KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerProspects dimming for behind-the-scenes push to expand video gaming in Pa.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of The CaucusA clash of deep-pocketed lobbying interests and concerns from some rank-and-file Republican lawmakers might stall the effort, though it will probably return in the fall.
June 22, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesAfter sudden Turzai resignation, GOP elevates new leadership in Pa. Houseby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PALancaster County Republican Bryan Cutler assumes control as new House speaker as the legislature faces mammoth challenges with the coronavirus, finances, and police reform.
June 20, 2020Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerMother of Antwon Rose II applauds confidential police hiring database, but does it go far enough?by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAWhile Pennsylvania takes its first steps on police reform, other states are far ahead in making misconduct data and records available to the public.