Jan. 6, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf asks Pa. legislature to advance relief for child sex abuse survivors during special sessionby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PANew Pennsylvania House Speaker Mark Rozzi said he would not consider any other legislation until a constitutional amendment opening a two-year window for civil lawsuits is considered.
Jan. 6, 2023House Democratic CaucusThe behind-the-scenes story of Mark Rozzi’s surprising rise to Pa. House speakerby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PARepublicans were the primary engineers behind the Berks County Democrat’s candidacy and announcement — and even wrote his acceptance speech.
Jan. 6, 2023MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerWhat Mark Rozzi’s record can tell us about what kind of Pa. House speaker he’ll beby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARozzi’s decade-long legislative career has been defined by his advocacy for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Few know what to expect from his surprise tenure as speaker.
Jan. 5, 2023CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerGov.-elect Josh Shapiro taps Trump target Al Schmidt to be Pa.’s top election officialby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Republican Philadelphia city commissioner famously stood up to former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 while receiving death threats.
Jan. 5, 2023JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerWill a surprise speaker pick make the Pennsylvania House less partisan?by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASome are hopeful the chamber will finally pass rule changes aimed at giving all lawmakers a say in making policy, but there’s reason to be skeptical.
Jan. 4, 2023House Democratic CaucusMark Rozzi is the new speaker of the Pennsylvania House. Here’s what you need to know.by Spotlight PA StaffDemocrats in the Pennsylvania House were joined by a handful of Republicans to pick Berks County’s Mark Rozzi to be speaker.
Jan. 3, 2023House Democratic CaucusDemocrats and a handful of Republicans picked the Pennsylvania House’s new speakerby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA, Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PADemocrats won 102 seats in the 203-member chamber during the November midterm election, but three vacancies led to a battle for control and ultimately a compromise pick.
Jan. 2, 2023JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerWho will lead the Pennsylvania House? Lawmakers will soon decide as power struggle continues.by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAAs legislative leaders battle for control, Democrats and Republicans will choose a person to serve as speaker of the Pennsylvania House.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACentury-old law let voters file baseless recount petitions and delay Pa.’s election certificationby Carter Walker of VotebeatElection experts and advocates say the Pennsylvania legislature should update an outdated 1927 law that was written for an era of machine politics.
Dec. 29, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAThe Pennsylvania legislature is getting a major infusion of new blood this Januaryby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe nearly 50 new members of the state House will have to navigate a messy power struggle between Democrats and Republicans shortly after they are sworn in.
Dec. 28, 2022Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerWho is on Pa. Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s transition team? (Full list)by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA full list of the people leading and staffing the team helping Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro prepare to take office.
Dec. 27, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerPartisan fights dominated the Pa. legislature’s recent session, eclipsing some major accomplishmentsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAIn 2022, Gov. Tom Wolf and Republican leaders were able to agree to a major budget package that spent billions in federal stimulus money, and passed the most laws in six years.
Dec. 20, 2022Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerWhat Josh Shapiro’s transition team says about how he’ll govern, and why some picks are raising eyebrowsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe incoming governor's transition team includes prominent Republicans and those backing policies criticized by Democrats (as well as a few other controversial picks.)
Dec. 16, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. Republicans fight to prolong House majority and pass far-reaching constitutional amendmentsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARepublicans may briefly control the PA House in 2023. Many want to use the advantage to pass major constitutional amendments.
Dec. 15, 2022HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerGov. Tom Wolf on COVID policies: ‘I’m going to be second-guessing myself until the day I die’by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAOutgoing Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said criticism of his COVID-19 business closure and waiver program were “right on the mark.”
Dec. 13, 2022TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerAdvocates, lawmakers hope Pa. House power shift opens door for election law changesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatLawmakers, lobbyists, and voting advocates preview their election law wishlists for next session.
Dec. 12, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADespite midterm losses, Pa. Republicans appear unlikely to abandon combative agendaby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAfter losing marquee races for governor and U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania Republicans are sticking to their combative agenda.
Dec. 7, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWATCH: A 1-on-1 exit interview with outgoing Pa. Gov. Tom Wolfby Spotlight PA StaffThe Democrat discussed the challenges and highlights of his 8 years in office.
Dec. 7, 2022Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerDispute over Pa. House special elections, control likely heading to courtby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrat Joanna McClinton says she is now in control of the Pennsylvania House, a claim Republican leaders say amounts to a “paperwork insurrection.”
Dec. 7, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf backs regulatory change that would formalize discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvaniansby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is the only state in the northeast without a nondiscrimination law on the books that protects people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Dec. 6, 2022Jose F. Moreno/ Philadelphia InquirerPa.’s governor spends thousands on private law firms but won’t disclose whyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of The CaucusGov. Tom Wolf’s Office of General Counsel spent at least $367,500 over the past three years on a half- dozen law firms while rarely providing details.
Dec. 2, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerIn tussle for Pennsylvania House leadership, parties clash over math and precedentby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats won a House majority in the midterms. But a vacancy has split the chamber evenly until at least Jan. 3, and the parties disagree on who should control it until then.
Dec. 1, 2022Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerThe teams helping Josh Shapiro prepare to become Pa.’s governor include wealthy donors, Republicansby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe Democrat is not the only governor-to-be who has given donors plum positions ahead of his inauguration, but some say the practice highlights the need to get money out of politics.
Nov. 16, 2022Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADemocrats win control of Pennsylvania state House after picking up 12 seatsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PADemocrats have not controlled the chamber for more than a decade, and the win will allow lawmakers to advance policy priorities like raising the minimum wage.
Nov. 9, 2022Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerDemocrats believe they will take control of the Pennsylvania House for the first time in more than a decadeby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAUnofficial results from Tuesday’s midterm election show that Democrats are expected to flip a number of Republican-controlled seats in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and State College.
Partisan primaries are fueling our political dysfunction but they can be fixed, new book saysAttendApr 19
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