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The Capitol

Skill games company woos Pa. lawmakers with trips to wild Wyoming rodeo

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Legislation sponsored by Republican state Sens. Ryan Aument and Scott Martin of Lancaster County would ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through fifth grade, claiming it’s not “age appropriate.”

Efforts to ban, restrict LGBTQ curriculum in Pa. schools hinge on who becomes the next governor

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

A plan to break the Pennsylvania legislature's blockade of a ban on gifts from lobbyists fell flat Wednesday, and lawmakers seem generally uninterested in the reform.

Clandestine plan to force a vote on Pa. legislative gift ban fails, lawmakers shrug

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

The Pennsylvania Capitol is a convoluted place. Spotlight PA wants to help make sense of it.

How Harrisburg Works: The rules for Pa. lawmaker per diems, speaker v. leader, and other Q&As

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

To understand how much money Democrats and Republicans spent to convince Pennsylvanians and the court system to support their maps, Spotlight PA asked the four caucuses for invoices from January 2021 to June 2022

Pa. lawmakers spent at least $3 million on private lawyers, experts during redistricting battle, invoices show

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf, flanked by advocates for nursing home operators and workers, in July celebrated the $600 million investment in long-term care facilities.

Thousands of Pa. nursing home workers may strike despite $600M for care in state budget

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s lobbying disclosure laws make it easy to underreport expenditures and difficult to ensure compliance.

Pa.’s unreliable lobbyist disclosure website is getting a user-friendly upgrade

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania already has one of the most expensive full-time legislatures in the U.S.

Pa. lawmakers are set to get huge raises next year. They can return them, but almost nobody does.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Two bills currently awaiting consideration in the General Assembly would allow independent voters to choose one major party’s primary to participate in.

Pa. lawmakers weigh bill that would allow independents to vote on primary candidates

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Aqua America — a supporter of the bill — is in talks to buy the Bucks County sewer system for more than $1 billion.

Critics call water quality bill moving through Pa. legislature a back door to privatization

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

“The Republican-led General Assembly continues to take extraordinary steps to dismantle access to abortion and implement a radical agenda,” Wolf said in a statement Thursday announcing the lawsuit.

Wolf sues GOP-led legislature to block abortion, voter ID questions from reaching Pa. ballot box

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Pitt, Penn State, Lincoln University, and Temple University receive taxpayer dollars each year to subsidize in-state tuition.

Wolf quietly steers $40 million to Pitt, Pa.’s other state-related universities

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s unemployment trust fund — a federally held pot of money that’s administered by the state’s Department of Labor & Industry — is currently at 0% solvency and hasn’t been fully solvent since 1971.

Pa.’s unemployment trust fund is broke. The Wolf admin says a long-term fix will save taxpayers millions.

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Empty desks and chairs are pictured in a classroom at Loring Flemming Elementary School in Blackwood, N.J., on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. The school is on a hybrid in-person and virtual learning model due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New Pa. budget injects $125M into private school tax credit program that lacks basic accountability

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Shelves of books in a daycare in Pennsylvania, where families can claim a new child tax credit beginning in January 2023.

Pennsylvania has a new child care tax credit. Here’s what you need to know.

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania lawmakers have agreed to give counties $45 million in new election funding as part of the state budget.

Pa. lawmakers agreed to a big election funding deal — with strings attached

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Inquirer

The Whole Home Repair Program will award grants and loans to homeowners and landlords to make repairs to their properties.

Here’s how Pennsylvania plans to spend its billions in federal stimulus money (full list)

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Overall, the deal represents a 2.9% increase in state spending compared to last year’s budget.

Pa. lawmakers agree to boost education funding, spend billions in remaining stimulus money as part of budget

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Republicans in the upper chamber successfully moved to add abortion language to the package Thursday as lawmakers worked to pass an already late budget.

Pennsylvania legislature seeks to declare state constitution provides no right to an abortion

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case that could reshape election policy across the country, including in Pennsylvania.

What is the independent state legislature doctrine, and why does it matter for Pa.?

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

Despite weeks of private negotiations between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and legislative Republicans, Pennsylvania’s budget is officially late.

Pennsylvania’s state budget is officially late. Here’s what you need to know.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

A proxy fight over abortion led by state House Republicans jeopardizes hundreds of millions of dollars in tuition assistance for Pennsylvania college students.

Pa. House Republicans want to block state funding for the University of Pittsburgh over fetal tissue research

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto any efforts to further curtail access to the procedure.

Decision to overturn Roe v. Wade won’t have immediate impact on abortion access in Pennsylvania

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania House leaders are quietly negotiating a deal to close a loophole in the chamber’s rules that protects lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct from facing institutional sanctions.

Pa. House eyes expanding who can bring sexual misconduct complaints against lawmakers

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Cutting that tax has become a rare area of bipartisan agreement between the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Wolf, a former businessman.

The bipartisan push to cut corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, explained

by Jaxon White for Spotlight PA

Supporters of the legislation argue that transgender women have an unfair physical advantage when competing in women’s sports.

Pa. is considering a ban on trans athletes. Experts say it’s discriminatory and ‘anti-evidence.’

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

Facing pressure from Democrats, Pa. panel avoids considering gun bills in wake of mass shootings

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — known as delta-8 — is a cannabinoid derived from hemp.

Unregulated hemp derivative delta-8 thrives in Pa.’s thorny marijuana landscape

by Christina Baker for Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s Capitol building in Harrisburg on the morning of Election Day 2020.

Pa. lawmaker wants more state control over millions in outside spending on federal elections

by Jaxon White for Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf and the legislature must agree to a budget by June 30.

Pennsylvania is sitting on billions in stimulus money. Lawmakers may actually agree on a plan to spend some of it.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

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