HomeTopicsThe CapitolThe latest news from Pennsylvania's Capitol in Harrisburg, including coverage of the state house of representatives, senate, budget, and governor's office.
Dec. 5, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PANew Pa. House rules sought to strengthen bipartisanship. Insiders say it didn't work.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Dec. 4, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesWe tracked Josh Shapiro’s 11 biggest campaign promises through his first year. See how he did.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA
Nov. 30, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. legislature paid $280K to settle harassment, other claims while requiring secrecy in many casesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Nov. 28, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow the ongoing Pa. budget impasse is hurting community colleges, librariesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Nov. 21, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Josh Shapiro appeals decisions that struck down key climate program to Pa.’s highest courtby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Nov. 14, 2023Stephen Caruso / Spotlight PADemocrats continue advancing gun control as advocates call for Pa. Senate to take up billsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Nov. 13, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAAs partisan tensions thaw in Harrisburg, Pa. lawmakers eye unfunded housing, school prioritiesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Nov. 2, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. Senate buy-in needed to send $642 million to Penn State, Temple, other state-related universitiesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Oct. 27, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesThe Tree of Life synagogue massacre led to little action by the Pa. legislatureby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Oct. 25, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAExplainer: The history behind Pennsylvania’s flat income taxby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA
Oct. 25, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAThousands miss out on low-income tax forgiveness program due to outdated income limitsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA
Oct. 20, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Josh Shapiro’s office agrees to pay $295K to settle sexual harassment allegation against top aideby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Oct. 20, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPa. tax credits result in ‘mixed bag’ for job creationby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA
Oct. 17, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat’s on the table as Pa. lawmakers attempt to end the budget stalemateby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Oct. 13, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aideby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Oct. 10, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro isn’t sold on a key climate program, and his working group isn’t either. What’s next for RGGI?by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA
Oct. 6, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAWhat this year’s budget means for Pa.’s shrinking rural communitiesby Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College
Oct. 5, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHouse approves bill to move Pa.’s 2024 primary but rejects voter ID expansion, other election reformsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of Votebeat
Sept. 28, 2023Courtesy Shapiro-Davis TransitionTop Shapiro staffer was accused of sexual harassment before resigningby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Sept. 28, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. lawmakers are still trying to finish the budget 3 months after the deadlineby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA
Sept. 26, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. bills to respond to Swiftie ticket woes could have unintended consequences, advocates warnby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Sept. 19, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADemocrats again secure one-vote Pa. House majority after special election winby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Sept. 19, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAA bipartisan bill seeks to crack down on Harrisburg’s ‘revolving door’ of lobbyistsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Sept. 14, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PALawmakers grapple with fixing Pa.’s unconstitutional school funding systemby Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Sept. 7, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania removes email database of public employeesby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA
Sept. 1, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAInside Spotlight PA’s fight to unseal lobbyist communications with the legislatureby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Aug. 30, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. budget inches forward, but lawmakers still split on stalled education fundingby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Aug. 29, 2023Georgianna Sutherland, Amanda Berg, and Hannah Yoon / For Spotlight PAScandals, power struggles and policy: 3 new state reps weather a wild 1st sessionby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Aug. 23, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAFunding for home repairs, public defense on hold as Pa. lawmakers negotiate final budget piecesby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA
Aug. 18, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesWhy some of Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet picks still have ‘acting’ next to their titleby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA