May 24, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAPa. limited a board’s power to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells. Democrats want to restore it.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA state House panel passed a bill Tuesday that would restore the Environmental Quality Board’s ability to raise bond prices on conventional well drillers.
May 17, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAProposed Pa. budget nearly quadruples funding for local government cooperationby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA 266% funding increase for Pennsylvania’s Municipal Assistance Program could help local governments spend tax dollars more efficiently while providing public services collectively.
May 4, 2023Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAProposal to update ailing Pa. rent, property tax rebate program would reverse decade of declineby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro has proposed increasing rent and property tax rebate amounts and raising the income limits to make an additional 173,000 people eligible.
May 1, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro signs first bill, expands Pa. health insurance coverage for breast cancer screeningsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAdvocates for health-care access said the law is a good first step in making medical treatment and screenings more affordable in Pennsylvania.
May 1, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerThe Pa. legislature seems to have met a tax break it dislikes: one for teachers, nurses, and copsby Stephen CarusoPennsylvania lawmakers have passed millions of dollars worth of corporate tax credits in recent years, but Republicans say they’re wary of the governor’s plan to offer a new one to workers.
April 28, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerAn amendment tracker and complete guide to proposed changes in Pennsylvania’s Constitutionby Stephen CarusoSince the latest two-year session began in January 2023, Pennsylvania legislators have proposed almost 40 changes to the state constitution. We’re tracking the changes.
April 27, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWhat will Pa. House Democrats do with a majority? First, they’re moving long-stalled priority bills.by Stephen Caruso and Kate HuangpuNow in control of the Pa. House, Democrats are advancing bills addressing worker safety, gun access, and discrimination.
April 25, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerSwitch to Pa.’s corporate filing system led to backlog and longer waits for business ownersby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe delays caused problems for new businesses, which need the paperwork to open a bank account, enter contracts, and more.
April 17, 2023Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAWhy Pennsylvania courts won’t be a part of this year’s budget hearingsby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLawmakers are holding hearings to dig into the budget ahead of the June 30 deadline. For the fourth year in a row, judicial officials won't be required to appear.
April 11, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow Harrisburg Works: Pa. House majority, rules vs. bills, and taxpayer money for Twitter Blueby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASeveral special elections are on the horizon for the Pennsylvania House, but a rule change means Democrats will keep their "majority."
April 5, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro’s proposed Pa. State Police fund saves road dollars but raises accountability concernsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro wants to stop diverting money meant for road and bridge repairs to the Pennsylvania State Police by creating a new fund with dedicated revenue.
March 31, 2023TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia InquirerCampaign finance, lobbying reform still receiving little attention in Pa. legislatureby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAWhen it comes to money in politics, Pennsylvania has some of the laxest laws in the country, while its rules for lobbyists are looser than many other states.
March 23, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWomen have more power than ever in Pennsylvania’s legislature, but lawmakers say big hurdles remainby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAWomen now lead both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature, but the state still lags behind more than two dozen others in terms of total representation.
March 15, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesBreaking down Shapiro’s plan to eliminate two of Pa.’s cell phone taxesby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania levies some of the highest taxes on cell phones in the country. Shapiro wants to eliminate two, which would fulfill a campaign promise.
March 11, 2023House Democratic CaucusTop Democrats knew about sexual harassment allegation against Pa. lawmaker in 2019by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA former Democratic leader told Mike Zabel to receive treatment and attend harassment training, a caucus spokesperson said.
March 9, 2023Courtesy Pennsylvania Capital-StarKey Pa. senator’s record has Democrats, voting advocates worried passing election reform will be difficultby Carter Walker of VotebeatCris Dush, who chairs the state Senate committee that considers voting bills, rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election and led Republicans’ investigation attempt.
March 8, 2023The Office of Governor Tom Wolf / FlickrPa. House lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he will resignby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrat Mike Zabel announced his decision in a letter to leadership hours after a fellow lawmaker publicly accused him of sexual harassment.
March 7, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro’s $44.4B budget pitch keeps Pa. spending relatively flat, preserves some pandemic benefitsby Stephen Caruso and Kate HuangpuThe first budget proposal from Pennsylvania’s new governor keeps spending relatively flat and preserves some pandemic-era programs while aiming to get the divided legislature on board.
March 7, 2023Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PABudget negotiations will determine fate of shrinking rebate program for older Pennsylvaniansby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe number of people eligible for rent and property tax rebates will keep shrinking due to inflation unless Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state legislature can agree on a fix.
March 6, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerWhat to expect from Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget proposalby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe first-term Democrat is expected to pitch more money for child care and a tax break for teachers in a plan that must win bipartisan support.
March 3, 2023The Office of Governor Tom Wolf / FlickrPa. lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he won’t resign, will seek treatment for ‘illness’by Spotlight PA StaffIn a letter to state House Democratic leadership, Mike Zabel said he was “mindful of and saddened by the sensitive and disturbing allegations against me.”
March 1, 2023JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerNew Pa. House rules expand who can file a sexual harassment complaint against lawmakersby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAOther changes to the chamber’s rules include less power for committee chairs and stricter regulation of constitutional amendments.
March 1, 2023The Office of Governor Tom Wolf / FlickrLobbyist says she was sexually harassed by Pa. lawmaker Mike Zabel, calls on him to resignby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAndi Perez, a lobbyist for Service Employees International Union 32BJ, said she shared her story to urge changes to state House ethics rules.
Feb. 28, 2023Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia InquirerJoanna McClinton elected first female speaker of the Pa. House as Mark Rozzi steps downby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARozzi, a Berks County Democrat who was elected in a surprise deal engineered by Republicans, said he wanted to make way for McClinton.
Feb. 27, 2023House Democratic CaucusThe Pa. House is getting ready to consider critical chamber rules. Here’s what you need to know.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAs a vote on the rules approaches, some state House Democrats are unsure about giving the GOP meaningful power to influence policymaking.
Feb. 24, 2023Heather Khalifa / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro admin can do more as rollbacks to food and health benefits loom in Pa., experts sayby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAMillions of Pennsylvanians will soon get less money to buy food, and hundreds of thousands could lose their government health insurance.
Feb. 22, 2023David Maialetti / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro admin contends taking Super Bowl tickets from group that gets state money didn’t violate governor’s own gift banby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe ban, enacted by Gov. Josh Shapiro, prevents him from taking pricey tickets from people or groups with “financial relations” with Pennsylvania.
Feb. 20, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerThe Pa. House is coming back with a Democratic majority. Will it finally be able to move forward?by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe chamber will return this week to focus on providing legal relief to sexual abuse survivors, but leaders are still debating what permanent rules to govern the chamber should look like.
Feb. 16, 2023JAMES BLOCKER / Philadelphia InquirerTop gaming regulators in Pa. met with industry lobbyists before coming out against a casino competitorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe state Gaming Control Board, which previously took no position on the legality of skill games despite casino opposition, reversed course after their meeting with Parx Casino representatives.
Feb. 14, 2023Steven M. Falk / Philadelphia InquirerShapiro sat courtside at a Sixers game with a donor. His campaign called it a ‘political meeting.’by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA spokesperson for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wouldn't say who paid for the pricey tickets, but said the expenses will be reported as an in-kind campaign contribution.
