July 8, 2022Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAHere’s how Pennsylvania plans to spend its billions in federal stimulus money (full list)by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAHome repairs, property tax relief for seniors, and state park repairs are among 20 programs that will be funded with the one-time stimulus money.
July 8, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers agree to boost education funding, spend billions in remaining stimulus money as part of budgetby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe wide-reaching budget, completed a week after the June 30 deadline, was made possible by higher-than-expected revenues that led to a multi-billion dollar surplus.
July 8, 2022HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania legislature seeks to declare state constitution provides no right to an abortionby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PALegislative Republicans advanced five significant constitutional amendments, including stricter voter ID and enhanced powers for the General Assembly.
July 8, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat is the independent state legislature doctrine, and why does it matter for Pa.?by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAAt least four U.S. Supreme Court justices have signaled support for an extreme legal doctrine that would give state legislatures unchecked power over elections and political maps.
July 1, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania’s state budget is officially late. Here’s what you need to know.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PATalks have been difficult this year due to differing priorities among Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican leaders, as well as emboldened conservative rank-and-file dissidents.
June 29, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. House Republicans want to block state funding for the University of Pittsburgh over fetal tissue researchby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe proposed ban complicates budget negotiations as GOP lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf try to complete the process before the June 30 deadline.
June 24, 2022ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerDecision to overturn Roe v. Wade won’t have immediate impact on abortion access in Pennsylvaniaby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PADemocratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto any efforts to further curtail access to the procedure, but the decision further raises the stakes in the tight governor's race in Pennsylvania.
June 17, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPa. House eyes expanding who can bring sexual misconduct complaints against lawmakersby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPa. House lawmakers can be punished for alleged sexual misconduct against chamber employees, but current rules leave many people, including administration officials and lobbyists, unprotected.
June 16, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerThe bipartisan push to cut corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, explainedby Jaxon White for Spotlight PAPennsylvania levies a 9.99% tax on corporate net income, the second-highest rate in the country.
June 14, 2022Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAPa. is considering a ban on trans athletes. Experts say it’s discriminatory and ‘anti-evidence.’by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAPennsylvania legislation that would ban transgender student-athletes from participating on teams corresponding with their gender lean on shoddy science and discriminatory ideas.
June 13, 2022Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerFacing pressure from Democrats, Pa. panel avoids considering gun bills in wake of mass shootingsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PABy sending a slate of firearms-related bills to another committee, a GOP-controlled panel threw cold water on an effort to force a vote on the legislation.
June 13, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesUnregulated hemp derivative delta-8 thrives in Pa.’s thorny marijuana landscapeby Christina Baker for Spotlight PADespite its hazy legal status, delta-8 is not subject to any regulations or mandatory testing in Pennsylvania, and its packaging isn’t required to note potential side effects.
June 9, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. lawmaker wants more state control over millions in outside spending on federal electionsby Jaxon White for Spotlight PAThe push for more local control is likely to face an uphill battle with fellow legislators, as Pennsylvania has some of the laxest state campaign finance rules in the country.
June 8, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania is sitting on billions in stimulus money. Lawmakers may actually agree on a plan to spend some of it.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWith the June 30 deadline to pass a budget approaching, Republican lawmakers who had previously shunned additional spending seem to be warming to the idea.
June 1, 2022Kent M. Wilhelm / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s highest court could give cities the go-ahead to craft their own gun lawsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Republican-led General Assembly is unlikely to consider restricting gun access despite the recent massacre of nearly 20 children in Texas.
May 31, 2022Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerGift ban, other good-government changes stall in Pa. despite promises from leadershipby Christina Baker for Spotlight PAGood-government advocates argue that the legislature, swayed by donors and leadership, lacks the political will to rid itself of the perks of being in elected office.
May 27, 2022MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerHigh-profile GOP primary losses could make passing Pa.’s next budget painfulby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PACapitol insiders believe the poor primary performances of Harrisburg’s top budget negotiators could inspire frustrated Republicans to revolt during budget season.
May 23, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesLawmaker urges Pa. legislature to make it easier for attorney general to investigate police killingsby Christina Baker for Spotlight PAState Sen. Art Haywood said his bill — inspired in part by the police killing of Christian Hall — would address the “appearance of bias” that erodes trust in law enforcement.
April 11, 2022KIM WEIMER / BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMESDraft bills and late-night emails reveal cozy ties between Pa. state lawmaker, casino lobbyistsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PARepresentatives of Parx Casino and state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson have worked in lockstep to ban unregulated, slot-like skill games that pose a threat to traditional gaming.
April 11, 2022BLAINE SHAHAN | LNP/LancasterOnlineWhat are skill games, and why are they at the center of a multimillion-dollar fightby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAUnlike casino slot machines, skill games aren’t regulated under the state’s gambling law or subject to the same high taxes.
March 29, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerThe public could gain easy access to info about how Pa. lawmakers spend taxpayer money on perksby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe bill would require legislators and staff in both the state House and Senate to post their expenses online on a quarterly basis.
March 14, 2022MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerFormer Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane arrested for DUIby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy of The InquirerKane, who resigned after a tumultuous first term that ended in several convictions, will be charged this week, according to Scranton police.
Feb. 8, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf asks GOP-led legislature to spend Pa.’s federal aid dollars as he pitches $1.8B boost for educationby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThough Wolf’s nearly $44 billion financial blueprint does not include any proposed tax increases, it is almost certain to face pushback from GOP leaders.
Feb. 1, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerGov. Tom Wolf’s final budget address will seek to cement his legacyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe speech will provide the roadmap for weeks of budget hearings and negotiations between the term-limited governor and the Republican-controlled legislature.
Jan. 26, 2022Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerA complete guide and amendment tracker for proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Constitutionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAUse Spotlight PA's exclusive amendment tracker to see all of the proposed changes to the state constitution and where they stand in the process.
Jan. 25, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerA massive Pa. corporate tax break lacks basic accountability, report findsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe failures are not the result of poor oversight, but rather an explicit effort by lawmakers to limit the information that is collected about the tax credit program.
Jan. 17, 2022TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. GOP answered Wolf’s pandemic vetoes with constitution changes. The strategy is here to stay.by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAWolf’s veto tally grew extensively during the pandemic and will likely expand during his final 13 months in office, as Republicans continue to largely bypass his agenda.
Jan. 14, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerVoters could be flooded with proposed changes to the Pa. Constitution in 2023by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAState Republicans have increasingly relied on constitutional amendments to pursue policy initiatives Gov. Tom Wolf would otherwise reject and most Democrats don’t support.
Jan. 11, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusAs lawmakers shielded details of their legal spending last year, they spent an additional $35,000 in taxpayer money to fight efforts to make the information public.
Jan. 6, 2022HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerThe Jan. 6 Capitol riot: A complete guide to what we know about Pennsylvania’s roleby Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAThe Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot was the culmination of deliberate lies and misinformation about the November 2020 election results and involved dozens of Pennsylvanians.