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Cynthia Fernandez

Stories by Cynthia Fernandez

The Capitol

The proposal was inspired by former Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, who had a "painfully distant" relationship with Gov. Tom Wolf. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Voters may never again get to choose Pa.’s lieutenant governor candidates

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 23, 2021

Education

Only a fraction of state education funding actually goes through a far funding formula, designed to help poor and underfunded districts. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 18, 2021

The Capitol

Currently, Gov. Tom Wolf is the only person who can end a disaster declaration. That would change under the proposed constitutional amendment. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. voters will get the last word in struggle between Wolf and lawmakers. Here’s what you need to know.

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 5, 2021

The Capitol

Rep. Mark Rozzi (seen here in 2018) announced Thursday there was support in the House for an emergency constitutional amendment.

Pa. House moves to get legal relief for clergy abuse victims back on spring ballot

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 4, 2021

The Capitol

“No matter how great a parent you are, if your local school system lacks the resources it needs to provide your kids with a quality education, that’s a barrier to giving them a better life," Gov. Tom Wolf said in his budget address Wednesday. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf asks for tax increase on Pa.’s top earners amid pandemic, GOP pans proposal as ‘irresponsible’

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 3, 2021

The Capitol

Gov. Tom Wolf used his veto power to nix a record 19 bills passed by the legislature in 2020 — 15 more than he did in 2019. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. enacted 140 laws last year. Only 27 of them addressed the coronavirus.

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 3, 2021

The Capitol

Gov. Tom Wolf and others rallied in September 2018 at the state Capitol in favor of clergy abuse reforms. Wolf on Monday signaled he would support creating a two-year window for retroactive lawsuits through the legislative process. — Commonwealth Media Services

There’s another path for survivors of clergy sex abuse to get justice. It faces an uphill climb.

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 1, 2021

The Capitol

Law enforcement has erected orange fencing and deployed armed officers outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol. — Mark Pynes / PennLive

Law enforcement in Pa. preparing for possible unrest despite ‘no specific threats’ to the Capitol

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 14, 2021

The Capitol

In a statement, Gov. Tom Wolf said the proposal “would hinder our ability to respond quickly, comprehensively, and effectively” to another wave of COVID-19.” — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. GOP lawmakers want voters to give them the power to end governor’s emergency orders

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 13, 2021

The Capitol

State Sen. Doug Mastriano is facing calls to resign from state Democrats over his attendance at a rally in Washington that led to the mob attack on the Capitol. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

A Pa. Republican lawmaker who marched to the Capitol before the mob attack is facing calls to resign

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 8, 2021

Elections

People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) — Andrew Harnik / AP

Top Pa. lawmakers who rejected election results denounce U.S. Capitol mob

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 6, 2021

The Capitol

Amid high emotions and partisan fingerpointing, Republicans also took the rare step of removing the Democratic lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, from running the session. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. GOP senators refuse to seat Democrat and remove Lt. Gov. Fetterman from presiding

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 5, 2021

The Capitol

Lawmakers from both parties and the anti-gerrymandering group Fair Districts PA want the rules adopted in 2021 to emphasize collaboration, rather than partisan politics. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Frustrated by the Pa. legislature? How obscure rules kill reforms and fuel partisan gridlock

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Jan. 5, 2021

Coronavirus

GOP lawmakers largely have not changed their position on how Pennsylvania should approach the crisis — emphasizing personal responsibility, not state mandates. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

As coronavirus hits home, Pa. GOP shifts messaging but still rejects mandates

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Dec. 15, 2020

Coronavirus

Gov. Tom Wolf is currently isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19. — Commonwealth Media Services

Wolf temporarily suspends Pa. indoor dining, school sports

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Dec. 10, 2020

Coronavirus

Gov. Tom Wolf — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf tests positive for the coronavirus, other officials in quarantine

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Dec. 9, 2020

Elections

House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) signed onto the letter. — Dan Gleiter / The Patriot-News

GOP leaders ask Congress to reject Pa.’s electors for Joe Biden

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Dec. 4, 2020

Elections

A hearing organized by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), one of the chamber’s most conservative members, appears to have violated policies the chamber adopted in the wake of the pandemic. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

GOP leadership silent after Pa. senator tests positive for COVID-19 following maskless election event

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Dec. 1, 2020

Elections

In voting against the state House's request to audit the election, Rep. Jake Wheatley (D., Allegheny) said it was duplicative of the Department of State's audit, which is required by law. — Commonwealth Media Services

In rare move, bipartisan panel rejects Pa. House request to audit 2020 election

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 23, 2020

The Capitol

House lawmakers voted 104-97 to approve the main budget bill and expected late Friday to also consider the enabling fiscal code, which provides spending instructions. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. budget doesn’t raise taxes or bail out industries hit by the coronavirus

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 20, 2020

Coronavirus

House Minority Whip Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) also announced this week he had tested positive for COVID-19. — Joe Hermitt / The Patriot-News

Pa. lawmaker claims Capitol unsafe after fifth member tests positive for COVID-19

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 20, 2020

The Capitol

The U.S. Treasury Department gives states broad discretion to use aid funding to pick up payroll costs for state employees who spend substantial time responding to the pandemic. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Remaining $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash to prop up Pa. state budget rather than help ailing industries

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 19, 2020

Elections

Though Republicans performed exceptionally well in down-ballot races — flipping two row offices and maintaining their legislative majorities — both rank-and-file members and leadership have repeatedly accused the Wolf administration and state Supreme Court of attempting to undermine the election’s integrity. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Pa. GOP advances audit of 2020 election, says it’s not about fraud

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 18, 2020

The Capitol

Sen. Kim Ward, a Republican, is the first woman to become majority leader in the General Assembly’s 338-year history, replacing Centre County’s Jake Corman (left). — Senate Republican Caucus

Two women just made history in the Pa. legislature. Will that be the last thing they have in common?

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 18, 2020

The Capitol

Lawmakers face a Nov. 30 deadline to pass a budget for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Feds reject Pa.’s plan to spend up to $300M in stimulus money for school property tax relief

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Nov. 16, 2020

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