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The Capitol

Jan. 22, 2021

Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm said it would be a mistake to remain in the $133,000-a-year position after the GOP-controlled state Senate late last year blocked her from serving another six years. — Dan Gleiter / PennLive

Acting Pa. victim advocate resigns after rejection by GOP-led Senate

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Jan. 21, 2021

A file photo of campaign finance records — Sara Simon / Spotlight PA

Q&A: Meet Pennsylvania’s new public records czar

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Jan. 15, 2021

Every decade, states undergo a process called redistricting, in which the boundaries of state legislative and U.S. House of Representative districts are redrawn to account for shifts in population as accounted for in the decennial census count. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Redistricting will be the definitive political fight of 2021 in Pennsylvania. Here’s how it’ll work.

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Jan. 14, 2021

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. 13, 2021

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

Inside the Pennsylvania Supreme Court — Christopher Millette / PennLive

Angered by Pa. Supreme Court rulings, GOP moves to exert more control over judiciary branch

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Jan. 12, 2021

In his first speech as top leader of the Pennsylvania Senate last week, Republican Sen. Jake Corman positioned himself as a reformer seeking to restore faith in government by greatly increasing transparency in the legislature and by elected lawmakers. — CHRISTINE BAKER / The Patriot-News

New Pa. GOP leader pushes transparency reforms despite party’s past reluctance, obstruction

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The Caucus

Jan. 6, 2021

The letter signed by President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (seen here, center) said Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar “usurped legislative authority." — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Republican leaders in Pa. Senate ask Congress to delay Electoral College count

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Jan. 5, 2021

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

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. 4, 2021

Sen. Jim Brewster — James Robinson / Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus

GOP leaders in Pa. Senate will refuse to seat Democrat certified by state as winner

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Dec. 31, 2020

Former Gov. Dick Thornburgh and wife Ginny in 2008. — DAVID SWANSON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Former Pa. Gov. Dick Thornburgh dies at 88

by Andy Wallace of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Dec. 23, 2020

President Donald Trump is still seeking to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results in the courts. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

As he seeks to overturn Pa.’s election, Trump invites GOP senators to White House lunch

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Dec. 15, 2020

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. 10, 2020

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. 8, 2020

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave rise to so-called “dark money groups,” which set up as nonprofits and operate with little transparency, not even having to disclose the names of their donors. — Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PA

Firm ran Pa. senator’s campaign and worked with super PAC to attack opponent, but denies coordination

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The Caucus

Dec. 4, 2020

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. 3, 2020

Mail-in ballots are sorted and counted by workers on Election Day in Northampton County. Pennsylvania lawmakers instituted no-excuse mail voting for the first time in 2019. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Pandemic, partisan attacks exposed gaps in Pa.’s new mail-in voting law

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA

Dec. 2, 2020

In the interview Wednesday, interim Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) said organizers of the hearing did not adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Nov. 27, 2020

State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), one of the Senate’s most conservative members, was among the lawmakers who went to the White House, legislative sources said. Mastriano played a key role in organizing the Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing in Gettysburg. He did not return a phone call seeking comment. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

President Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent.

by William Bender of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Nov. 20, 2020

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

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. 19, 2020

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

Representatives for Republicans who control the General Assembly and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf were tightlipped Wednesday evening on the ongoing budget negotiations and their plans to use that remaining money. — Kalim A. Bhatti / The Philadelphia Inquirer

With $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash left to spend, the Pa. government might be the big winner

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Nov. 18, 2020

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

Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. victim advocate claims Senate rejection was ‘vindictive,’ could remain on the job for weeks or longer

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Nov. 18, 2020

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. 16, 2020

Tim Tai / Philadelphia Inquirer

Senate axes second term for Pa.'s victim advocate, who angered GOP leader

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Nov. 16, 2020

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

Oct. 9, 2020

The resolution would have created a committee of five House lawmakers — three Republicans and two Democrats — to investigate and review the Nov. 3 election. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. Republicans drop effort to create ‘election integrity’ panel with subpoena power

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA

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