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The Capitol

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

Oct. 8, 2020

Rep. Aaron Bernstine — seen here at a reopen rally outside the Capitol in April — apologized for “jokes that went too far” during a family vacation. — DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer

House GOP leadership calls on lawmaker to resign over vulgar videos

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Oct. 8, 2020

County commissioners for months have pleaded for more flexibility to begin processing mail-in and absentee ballots before Election Day, a practice known as “pre-canvassing.” — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawmakers mount new push to give Pa. counties more flexibility in counting mail-in ballots

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Oct. 7, 2020

The lawsuit, which Sen. Joe Scarnati’s campaign could attempt to refile, could pose a chilling effect on journalists' and the public’s access to public records. — Steven M. Falk / Philadelphia Inquirer

Judge dismisses suit by top Pa. senator’s campaign against Spotlight PA journalist, others

by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus

Sept. 30, 2020

The resolution would create 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 want to create and control an ‘election integrity’ panel with subpoena power

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Sept. 28, 2020

Tim Tai / Philadelphia Inquirer

How Pa.'s victim advocate found herself in the crosshairs of the GOP-led Senate

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Sept. 25, 2020

The Pennsylvania legislature could decide to offer its own slate of electors by invoking Article II of the U.S. Constitution. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Could 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 PA

Sept. 22, 2020

Grassroots and good-government groups have long wanted to take lawmakers completely out of the process and hand over the job to a committee of average citizens. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawmakers' power to redraw Pa.'s political maps could be more limited in 2021

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Sept. 18, 2020

Counties are anxiously waiting to see if lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf will extend the amount of time elections boards have to begin “pre-canvassing” mailed ballots. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Voting victories for Democrats in Pa. might have closed the door on more election reform

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Sept. 16, 2020

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati’s campaign is seeking $6,070 from The Caucus, Caucus Bureau Chief Brad Bumsted, and Spotlight PA reporter Angela Couloumbis. — STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costs

by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Sept. 14, 2020

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman is widely considered next in line to ascend to the chamber’s top leadership post. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Pa. GOP lawmaker taps politically connected lobbyist to be chief of staff

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

Aug. 25, 2020

Gov. Tom Wolf delivered a message to lawmakers Tuesday: "We’ve got to get back to doing things that actually matter to people.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pa. to legalize marijuana, provide more COVID-19 relief this fall

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

July 9, 2020

Democrats have called the measures first steps, as they press GOP leadership to go further and take up more complex issues like curtailing when officers can use deadly force. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Everything you need to know about Pa. police reform efforts by the legislature

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

July 8, 2020

Independent research shows gerrymandering protects incumbents and strips communities of political power by heavily concentrating one party’s voters into a single district or spreading them out unnaturally. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawmakers will rule again over redrawing of Pa. political boundaries, but critics aren’t giving up

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

July 3, 2020

States lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow certain municipalities to ban residents from setting off fireworks. — Paul Vasiliades / Flickr

In Pa.’s growing fireworks war, it’s fed-up residents versus cold, hard cash

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

June 24, 2020

Black Democrats who demanded action in the wake of Floyd’s death called the reform a first step. — ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Effort to track police use of force in Pa. would lack racial data, public transparency

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

June 23, 2020

Senate GOP leaders said they are still hoping for a vote this week, but they are working against the clock: The legislature will break for the summer later this month. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Prospects dimming for behind-the-scenes push to expand video gaming in Pa.

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

June 22, 2020

Bryan Cutler's rise comes as the state is grappling with how to best respond to a continuing public health crisis. — Matt Rourke / AP Photo

After sudden Turzai resignation, GOP elevates new leadership in Pa. House

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA

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