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“No matter how great a parent you are, if your local school system lacks the resources it needs to provide your kids with a quality education, that’s a barrier to giving them a better life," Gov. Tom Wolf said in his budget address Wednesday.

Wolf asks for tax increase on Pa.’s top earners amid pandemic, GOP pans proposal as ‘irresponsible’

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf used his veto power to nix a record 19 bills passed by the legislature in 2020 — 15 more than he did in 2019.

Pa. enacted 140 laws last year. Only 27 of them addressed the coronavirus.

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf and others rallied in September 2018 at the state Capitol in favor of clergy abuse reforms. Wolf on Monday signaled he would support creating a two-year window for retroactive lawsuits through the legislative process.

There’s another path for survivors of clergy sex abuse to get justice. It faces an uphill climb.

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Kathy Boockvar has led the Department of State since 2019, and oversaw a tense and difficult presidential election in a battleground state last year.

Top Pa. election official to resign after agency bungled requirement for constitutional amendment

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Many Republicans contend electing appellate judges by districts rather than in statewide partisan contests — as is currently the process — will ensure that the state Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court reflect the state’s diverse geography.

Pa. could become a national outlier in how it elects appellate judges. Here’s why experts are worried.

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm said it would be a mistake to remain in the $133,000-a-year position after the GOP-controlled state Senate late last year blocked her from serving another six years.

Acting Pa. victim advocate resigns after rejection by GOP-led Senate

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

A file photo of campaign finance records

Q&A: Meet Pennsylvania’s new public records czar

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Every decade, states undergo a process called redistricting, in which the boundaries of state legislative and U.S. House of Representative districts are redrawn to account for shifts in population as accounted for in the decennial census count.

Redistricting will be the definitive political fight of 2021 in Pennsylvania. Here’s how it’ll work.

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Law enforcement has erected orange fencing and deployed armed officers outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Law enforcement in Pa. preparing for possible unrest despite ‘no specific threats’ to the Capitol

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

In a statement, Gov. Tom Wolf said the proposal “would hinder our ability to respond quickly, comprehensively, and effectively” to another wave of COVID-19.”

Pa. GOP lawmakers want voters to give them the power to end governor’s emergency orders

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Inside the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Angered by Pa. Supreme Court rulings, GOP moves to exert more control over judiciary branch

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

In his first speech as top leader of the Pennsylvania Senate last week, Republican Sen. Jake Corman positioned himself as a reformer seeking to restore faith in government by greatly increasing transparency in the legislature and by elected lawmakers.

New Pa. GOP leader pushes transparency reforms despite party’s past reluctance, obstruction

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

The letter signed by President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (seen here, center) said Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar “usurped legislative authority."

Republican leaders in Pa. Senate ask Congress to delay Electoral College count

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Amid high emotions and partisan fingerpointing, Republicans also took the rare step of removing the Democratic lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, from running the session.

Pa. GOP senators refuse to seat Democrat and remove Lt. Gov. Fetterman from presiding

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Lawmakers from both parties and the anti-gerrymandering group Fair Districts PA want the rules adopted in 2021 to emphasize collaboration, rather than partisan politics.

Frustrated by the Pa. legislature? How obscure rules kill reforms and fuel partisan gridlock

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Sen. Jim Brewster

GOP leaders in Pa. Senate will refuse to seat Democrat certified by state as winner

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Former Gov. Dick Thornburgh and wife Ginny in 2008.

Former Pa. Gov. Dick Thornburgh dies at 88

by Andy Wallace of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

President Donald Trump is still seeking to overturn Pennsylvania’s election results in the courts.

As he seeks to overturn Pa.’s election, Trump invites GOP senators to White House lunch

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

GOP lawmakers largely have not changed their position on how Pennsylvania should approach the crisis — emphasizing personal responsibility, not state mandates.

As coronavirus hits home, Pa. GOP shifts messaging but still rejects mandates

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf is currently isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19.

Wolf temporarily suspends Pa. indoor dining, school sports

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

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling gave rise to so-called “dark money groups,” which set up as nonprofits and operate with little transparency, not even having to disclose the names of their donors.

Firm ran Pa. senator’s campaign and worked with super PAC to attack opponent, but denies coordination

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The Caucus

House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) signed onto the letter.

GOP leaders ask Congress to reject Pa.’s electors for Joe Biden

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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.

Pandemic, partisan attacks exposed gaps in Pa.’s new mail-in voting law

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA

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.

‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

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.

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

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.

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

House Minority Whip Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) also announced this week he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Pa. lawmaker claims Capitol unsafe after fifth member tests positive for COVID-19

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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.

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

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.

With $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash left to spend, the Pa. government might be the big winner

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

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.

Pa. GOP advances audit of 2020 election, says it’s not about fraud

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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