June 14, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. budget 2023: How a landmark school funding lawsuit is shaping negotiationsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAHow to fix Pennsylvania’s school funding system is front and center during this year’s budget negotiations in the wake of a landmark Commonwealth Court ruling.
June 13, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerWhy some lawmakers think this will be the year Pa. raises its minimum wageby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAt the moment, Pennsylvania’s wage floor is $7.25 an hour — the same as the federal minimum. The legislature last increased the state’s minimum wage in 2006.
June 12, 2023Office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWineA train safety bill inspired by the East Palestine derailment faces tough odds in the Pa. legislatureby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARail safety legislation in Pennsylvania faces quiet resistance from the industry and its allies, who have questioned the legality of the proposed measure.
June 9, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerDisputes over education spending, cash reserves emerge as Pa. budget deadline approachesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Democratic-controlled state House passed a budget plan this week that includes a major boost to education spending. It faced immediate opposition from Republicans who control the state Senate.
June 6, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. officials spent $12.6M on private lawyers to fight challenge to state’s education fundingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe legal battle, two state officials privately acknowledged, carries one of the highest price tags for outside lawyers in decades.
June 5, 2023TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. budget 2023: Your guide to what’s on the table, what comes next, and how to follow alongby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Pennsylvania legislature has a June 30 deadline to complete a multibillion-dollar budget. Here’s what you need to know.
May 31, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro won’t share daily calendar, a departure from previous Pa. governor’s transparencyby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe Democratic governor’s decision to withhold details about who he meets behind the scenes is legally sound, though experts said he could choose to reveal more.
May 25, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerHow Harrisburg Works: New caucuses, special election season, and the death of a billby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAState House lawmakers have formed a new Jewish caucus. One of the first acts of business: rejecting Doug Mastriano.
May 24, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAPa. limited a board’s power to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells. Democrats want to restore it.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA state House panel passed a bill Tuesday that would restore the Environmental Quality Board’s ability to raise bond prices on conventional well drillers.
May 17, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAProposed Pa. budget nearly quadruples funding for local government cooperationby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA 266% funding increase for Pennsylvania’s Municipal Assistance Program could help local governments spend tax dollars more efficiently while providing public services collectively.
May 4, 2023Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAProposal to update ailing Pa. rent, property tax rebate program would reverse decade of declineby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro has proposed increasing rent and property tax rebate amounts and raising the income limits to make an additional 173,000 people eligible.
May 1, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro signs first bill, expands Pa. health insurance coverage for breast cancer screeningsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAdvocates for health-care access said the law is a good first step in making medical treatment and screenings more affordable in Pennsylvania.
May 1, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerThe Pa. legislature seems to have met a tax break it dislikes: one for teachers, nurses, and copsby Stephen CarusoPennsylvania lawmakers have passed millions of dollars worth of corporate tax credits in recent years, but Republicans say they’re wary of the governor’s plan to offer a new one to workers.
April 28, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerAn amendment tracker and complete guide to proposed changes in Pennsylvania’s Constitutionby Stephen CarusoSince the latest two-year session began in January 2023, Pennsylvania legislators have proposed almost 40 changes to the state constitution. We’re tracking the changes.
April 27, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat will Pa. House Democrats do with a majority? First, they’re moving long-stalled priority bills.by Stephen Caruso and Kate HuangpuNow in control of the Pa. House, Democrats are advancing bills addressing worker safety, gun access, and discrimination.
April 25, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerSwitch to Pa.’s corporate filing system led to backlog and longer waits for business ownersby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe delays caused problems for new businesses, which need the paperwork to open a bank account, enter contracts, and more.
April 17, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAWhy Pennsylvania courts won’t be a part of this year’s budget hearingsby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLawmakers are holding hearings to dig into the budget ahead of the June 30 deadline. For the fourth year in a row, judicial officials won't be required to appear.
April 11, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow Harrisburg Works: Pa. House majority, rules vs. bills, and taxpayer money for Twitter Blueby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASeveral special elections are on the horizon for the Pennsylvania House, but a rule change means Democrats will keep their "majority."
April 5, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro’s proposed Pa. State Police fund saves road dollars but raises accountability concernsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro wants to stop diverting money meant for road and bridge repairs to the Pennsylvania State Police by creating a new fund with dedicated revenue.
March 31, 2023TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerCampaign finance, lobbying reform still receiving little attention in Pa. legislatureby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAWhen it comes to money in politics, Pennsylvania has some of the laxest laws in the country, while its rules for lobbyists are looser than many other states.
March 23, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWomen have more power than ever in Pennsylvania’s legislature, but lawmakers say big hurdles remainby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAWomen now lead both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature, but the state still lags behind more than two dozen others in terms of total representation.
March 15, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesBreaking down Shapiro’s plan to eliminate two of Pa.’s cell phone taxesby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania levies some of the highest taxes on cell phones in the country. Shapiro wants to eliminate two, which would fulfill a campaign promise.
March 11, 2023House Democratic CaucusTop Democrats knew about sexual harassment allegation against Pa. lawmaker in 2019by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA former Democratic leader told Mike Zabel to receive treatment and attend harassment training, a caucus spokesperson said.
March 9, 2023Courtesy Pennsylvania Capital-StarKey Pa. senator’s record has Democrats, voting advocates worried passing election reform will be difficultby Carter Walker of VotebeatCris Dush, who chairs the state Senate committee that considers voting bills, rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election and led Republicans’ investigation attempt.
March 8, 2023The Office of Governor Tom Wolf / FlickrPa. House lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he will resignby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrat Mike Zabel announced his decision in a letter to leadership hours after a fellow lawmaker publicly accused him of sexual harassment.
March 7, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro’s $44.4B budget pitch keeps Pa. spending relatively flat, preserves some pandemic benefitsby Stephen Caruso and Kate HuangpuThe first budget proposal from Pennsylvania’s new governor keeps spending relatively flat and preserves some pandemic-era programs while aiming to get the divided legislature on board.
March 7, 2023Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PABudget negotiations will determine fate of shrinking rebate program for older Pennsylvaniansby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe number of people eligible for rent and property tax rebates will keep shrinking due to inflation unless Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state legislature can agree on a fix.
March 6, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerWhat to expect from Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget proposalby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe first-term Democrat is expected to pitch more money for child care and a tax break for teachers in a plan that must win bipartisan support.
March 3, 2023The Office of Governor Tom Wolf / FlickrPa. lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he won’t resign, will seek treatment for ‘illness’by Spotlight PA StaffIn a letter to state House Democratic leadership, Mike Zabel said he was “mindful of and saddened by the sensitive and disturbing allegations against me.”
March 1, 2023JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerNew Pa. House rules expand who can file a sexual harassment complaint against lawmakersby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAOther changes to the chamber’s rules include less power for committee chairs and stricter regulation of constitutional amendments.
