Mike Wereschagin

Stories by Mike Wereschagin

Reports that show all 50 senators’ spending for the month of July were posted to the Senate’s website Wednesday morning, alongside spending information for the chief clerk and secretary.

For the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending records

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

Sept. 1, 2021

Former state Rep. Margo Davidson was charged in July with stealing from taxpayers and misusing campaign funds, helping her pad a legislative salary that’s already among the most generous in the country.

Theft charges brought down a state lawmaker. But Pa.’s taxpayer-funded system for perks was already ripe for abuse.

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

Aug. 6, 2021

“I can’t believe that,” Rep. Chris Sainato said in a recent interview when told of his expenses. “I don’t know where you are getting $1.8 million.”

How one Pennsylvania lawmaker billed taxpayers $1.8 million in expenses

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

June 22, 2021

About $20 million went into lawmakers’ pockets over four years in the form of reimbursements for meals, mileage subsidies, per diems, and other expenses.

Bill would force Pa. to post online how lawmakers spend millions in tax dollars each year

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

June 3, 2021

The Caucus and Spotlight PA began filing Right-to-Know Law requests in November 2019 in an attempt to answer a simple question: How does one of the largest and most expensive full-time legislatures in the country spend the taxpayer money it allots itself?

Inside the year-long fight to figure out how the Pa. legislature spends taxpayer money on itself

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch Of The Caucus

May 12, 2021

About $20 million went into Pennsylvania lawmakers’ pockets over four years in the form of reimbursements for meals, mileage subsidies, per diems, and other expenses.

Taxpayers foot huge bill to run Pa.’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many details

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

May 12, 2021

The campaign of outgoing state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking thousands of dollars from two news organizations who requested records of his campaign spending.

Top Pa. senator’s campaign revives lawsuit against journalists over public records fees

by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus

Nov. 12, 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.

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

by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus

Oct. 7, 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.

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

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

Sept. 16, 2020

Campaign Finance

The most powerful lawmaker in the Pa. Senate, Joe Scarnati, dined at the St. Peter Stiftskulinarium restaurant in Austria in September 2016 and charged $246 to his campaign account. State law requires campaign money to be used for “influencing the outcome of an election,” but what qualifies is largely open to interpretation.

Lavish dinners, sports tickets, and nearly $3.5 million in other expenses by Pa. lawmakers you’ve never seen

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, Paula Knudsen, Sam Janesch and Alyssa Biederman of The Caucus

Oct. 22, 2019