Feb. 8, 2022Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf asks GOP-led legislature to spend Pa.’s federal aid dollars as he pitches $1.8B boost for educationby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThough Wolf’s nearly $44 billion financial blueprint does not include any proposed tax increases, it is almost certain to face pushback from GOP leaders.
Feb. 1, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerGov. Tom Wolf’s final budget address will seek to cement his legacyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe speech will provide the roadmap for weeks of budget hearings and negotiations between the term-limited governor and the Republican-controlled legislature.
Jan. 26, 2022Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerA complete guide and amendment tracker for proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Constitutionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAUse Spotlight PA's exclusive amendment tracker to see all of the proposed changes to the state constitution and where they stand in the process.
Jan. 25, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerA massive Pa. corporate tax break lacks basic accountability, report findsby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe failures are not the result of poor oversight, but rather an explicit effort by lawmakers to limit the information that is collected about the tax credit program.
Jan. 17, 2022TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. GOP answered Wolf’s pandemic vetoes with constitution changes. The strategy is here to stay.by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAWolf’s veto tally grew extensively during the pandemic and will likely expand during his final 13 months in office, as Republicans continue to largely bypass his agenda.
Jan. 14, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerVoters could be flooded with proposed changes to the Pa. Constitution in 2023by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAState Republicans have increasingly relied on constitutional amendments to pursue policy initiatives Gov. Tom Wolf would otherwise reject and most Democrats don’t support.
Jan. 11, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusAs lawmakers shielded details of their legal spending last year, they spent an additional $35,000 in taxpayer money to fight efforts to make the information public.
Jan. 6, 2022HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerThe Jan. 6 Capitol riot: A complete guide to what we know about Pennsylvania’s roleby Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PAThe Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot was the culmination of deliberate lies and misinformation about the November 2020 election results and involved dozens of Pennsylvanians.
Dec. 14, 2021Pennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionPennsylvania revises Confederate markers, recasts forces as “enemy” soldiersby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAPennsylvania has revised or removed historical markers and plaques about the Confederacy amid a nationwide reckoning over how the army is remembered.
Dec. 13, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PALack of telehealth law in Pennsylvania a major headache for patients who need it mostby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe state is one of only seven that do not require reimbursement for virtual visits, meaning patients must deal with uneven insurance coverage and some medical providers who don’t want to bother.
Dec. 3, 2021HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerVaunted Pennsylvania Society weekend loses luster among politicosby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe annual gathering of Pennsylvania politicians, lobbyists, and business owners has once again been scaled back because of COVID-19.
Nov. 11, 2021Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerNew limits would curtail lobbyist perks for Pa. lawmakers, but one leader could stand in the wayby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASenate President Jake Corman, who has reported accepting thousands of dollars in hospitality and transportation gifts, has yet to join fellow GOP leaders in support of the reform.
Nov. 9, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesTop Pa. House Republican wants to greatly expand lawmakers’ power over the governor, executive branchby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAA majority of lawmakers would be able to block orders, such as one requiring masks in schools, from continuing past 21 days.
Oct. 13, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers hand out millions in public contracts to law firms that fill their campaign coffersby Sam Janesch of The Caucus and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe mutually beneficial system, which is entirely legal, enriches the campaigns of Pa. lawmakers, who in turn hire firms for all types of legal matters — and all paid for by taxpayers.
Oct. 12, 2021Leise Hook for Spotlight PAPa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers, but often don’t reveal whyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusA review of thousands of pages of documents shows the cases ranged from public records fights to secret personnel problems to attempts to overturn last year’s presidential election.
Oct. 11, 2021Kalim A. Bhatti / For The InquirerGOP wants personal voter data to root out fraud. Pa. already uses a more secure system.by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAPennsylvania has spent nearly half a million dollars over the past six years to find and remove outdated registrations from its voter database.
Sept. 29, 2021Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAAt last minute, Pa. lawmakers vote to extend dozens of COVID-19 waiversby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWithout action, the waivers would have expired Thursday, potentially exacerbating ongoing staffing crises in hospitals and long-term care institutions.
Sept. 27, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerTo avoid Wolf’s veto, Pa. GOP proposes giving voters final say on stricter ID rules, other election changesby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PABy simultaneously pursuing legislative changes as well as a constitutional amendment, Republicans are presenting Gov. Tom Wolf with two options: negotiate or be cut out of the conversation completely.
Sept. 23, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAWolf admin sues Pa. Senate Republicans over bid to collect private voter informationby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe complaint argues GOP senators are unlawfully pursuing a review based on “a disproven narrative” designed to undermine faith in the results of the 2020 election.
Sept. 21, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. state Democratic lawmaker quietly stripped of committee leadership, Capitol accessby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAState Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia has been sidelined over what he called “incorrect information” about him. Democratic leaders have not disclosed the reason for their move.
Sept. 15, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. Senate GOP moves to collect private voter information in controversial review of 2020 electionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWednesday's vote by a Senate panel allows it to demand information — including the name, address, driver's license, and partial social security number — for all registered Pennsylvania voters.
Sept. 14, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. GOP lawmakers to subpoena personal information on every voter in controversial 2020 election reviewby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe GOP lawmakers have crafted a sweeping subpoena, requesting among other information the name, address, and partial social security number of every voter registered as of November 2020.
Sept. 14, 2021Stephen Caruso / Pennsylvania Capital-StarGov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor saysby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThough the program was well-intentioned — designed to provide relief to businesses during the early months of the pandemic shutdown — it was confusing and lacked transparency and accountability.
Sept. 13, 2021Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAExpiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worseby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWith cases rising, health-care professionals are urging the legislature to extend the regulatory changes to maximize the number of workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Sept. 9, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election resultsby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PARudy Giuliani once described the Amistad Project as a “partner” in the Trump campaign’s legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But little else is known about the group or its donors.
Sept. 2, 2021MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerThe Supreme Court’s decision on a Texas abortion ban raises the stakes for the Pa. governor’s raceby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PADemocratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto any effort to curtail abortion access, but his term ends in January 2023. Republicans plan to aggressively pursue the office.
Sept. 1, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerFor the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending recordsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch of The CaucusThough a win for taxpayers, the information provided online is not searchable or easy to analyze.
Aug. 27, 2021Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerPa.’s legislative leaders wield extraordinary power, and the audit fight proves itby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe state Senate's top Republican recently stripped another lawmaker of his committee chairmanship and Capitol staff, a rare but not unprecedented move in Harrisburg.
Aug. 26, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesThe Pa. Senate leader resisted his pro-Trump wing for months. Now he wants a MAGA makeover.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia InquirerFor months, Jake Corman walked a fine line as the movement to discredit the 2020 election results won support from some of his pro-Trump colleagues. Now the Pennsylvania Republican is all in.
Aug. 26, 2021Sue Dorfman / For VotebeatWhat we know about the renewed push for a ‘forensic audit’ of Pennsylvania’s 2020 electionby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAWe cut through the noise to revisit how this effort came about, what we know about it thus far, and what it might look like in the future.
