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.
June 19, 2020STEVEN M. FALK / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRERTop Pa. GOP lawmaker fast-tracking a lucrative gambling expansion that would benefit a major campaign donorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The CaucusThe maneuvering offers a window into the raw intersection between politics and policy-making in Pennsylvania, and how campaign dollars can drive the legislative agenda.
June 18, 2020Office of Gov. Tom WolfDespite landmark ruling, Pa. GOP leaders in no hurry to extend LGBTQ protections under state lawby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAAdvocates say action is necessary to close gaps in equality, but a House Republican committee chair said he'll have "to see where this ranks” with other issues.
June 15, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerRed tape, lack of funding limit public’s oversight of Pa. police through body camerasby Jordan Wolman for Spotlight PAHailed as a tool to better protect people from violent police officers, their use and effectiveness have been limited. Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s time to revisit the issue.
June 15, 2020MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia InquirerPa. advances reforms to create confidential police disciplinary database, as NY, NJ take steps to make records publicby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PADemocrats hailed the move as a long-awaited first step after seeing similar legislation languish. But transparency in officer discipline still lags behind New York and New Jersey.
June 10, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesTop Republican Mike Turzai will resign from the Pa. House on June 15by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PATurzai announced in January he would not seek reelection this fall and would instead pursue a job in the private sector.
June 9, 2020Joe Hermitt / The Patriot-NewsPa. House Speaker Mike Turzai expected to resign before the end of his term, sources sayby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA, and Jan Murphy and Charles Thompson of PennLive | The Patriot-NewsIt's not clear exactly when Turzai will depart, though he’s expected to outline a timetable Wednesday.
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