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.
Feb. 24, 2021Robert Frank / For Spotlight PACounties will again be unable to process mail ballots early during Pa.’s primary electionby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile a municipal primary typically sees low turnout, election officials said they can’t predict how many voters will take advantage of the state’s no-excuse mail voting law.
Feb. 23, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerVoters may never again get to choose Pa.’s lieutenant governor candidatesby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAA proposed constitutional amendment would allow a gubernatorial candidate to choose their running mate after the spring primary, much like the presidential race.
Feb. 22, 2021CLEM MURRAY / Philadelphia InquirerSpotlight PA sues to unseal records in ex-Democratic state lawmaker’s embezzlement caseby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThree news organizations asked a federal court to unseal records related to the conviction of former state Rep. Leslie Acosta of Philadelphia, arguing there is a high burden for restricting that access.
Feb. 19, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa.’s new auditor general says his election was fair, but he won’t talk about the othersby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PABecause Timothy DeFoor may be asked to investigate the 2020 election, his office said he "must maintain his independence."
Feb. 18, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerThe $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districtsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf’s idea relies on a hefty tax increase on high earners, which will be a nearly impossible sell to the legislature and many in the public.
Feb. 17, 2021CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania State Police will escape legislative scrutiny in 2021 budget processby Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PAThe decision comes after a year dominated by policy brutality protests, and amid concerns about illegal vehicle searches and alleged racial profiling of Latinos by troopers.
Feb. 15, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerDelay in census data could put transparency in Pa.’s redistricting process at riskby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PALawmakers will likely get half as much time to draw the state’s new legislative and congressional maps, worrying advocates who have long fought for a more open process.
Feb. 10, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerWolf administration refuses to release details after failure derails Pa. clergy sex abuse reliefby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe Department of State disclosed that it had no system in place to prevent such an error, which has devastated clergy sexual abuse survivors.
Feb. 8, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesHow some Pa. lawmakers score a ‘golden parachute’ to pad their pensionsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAEx-state legislators are frequently on the shortlist to join Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board, which boasts an annual salary of $145,000.
Feb. 5, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. voters will get the last word in struggle between Wolf and lawmakers. Here’s what you need to know.by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe legislature on Friday gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give state lawmakers the power to unilaterally end a disaster declaration.
Feb. 4, 2021AARON RICKETTS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. House moves to get legal relief for clergy abuse victims back on spring ballotby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA"Human error" by the Department of State derailed a constitutional amendment on whether survivors of decades-old sexual abuse should be able to sue.
Feb. 4, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWhat the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of votingby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PASecretary Kathy Boockvar’s resignation has emboldened her fiercest GOP critics, even though it was not related to her handling of the closely watched vote in a battleground state.
Partisan primaries are fueling our political dysfunction but they can be fixed, new book saysAttendApr 19
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