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The Capitol

Three distinct suits are being appealed to the state’s highest court, all arguing that cities and municipalities in Pennsylvania should be allowed to pass their own gun laws.

Pennsylvania’s highest court could give cities the go-ahead to craft their own gun laws

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Gift ban, other good-government changes stall in Pa. despite promises from leadership

by Christina Baker for Spotlight PA

At least five Republican House incumbents lost reelection on May 17, including Stan Saylor (R., York), who chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee.

High-profile GOP primary losses could make passing Pa.’s next budget painful

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

State Sen. Art Haywood said Monday that the USA Today Network’s PA Editorial Board “challenged” the state legislature to pass his bill.

Lawmaker urges Pa. legislature to make it easier for attorney general to investigate police killings

by Christina Baker for Spotlight PA

State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R., Bucks) is shown here holding a sports betting ticket at Parx Casino. Tomlinson’s office asked lobbyists for the casino to write language for a bill to ban skill games.

Draft bills and late-night emails reveal cozy ties between Pa. state lawmaker, casino lobbyists

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

A Pennsylvania skill game terminal. Games of skill here are the center of a multimillion-dollar fight with casinos.

What are skill games, and why are they at the center of a multimillion-dollar fight

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

As it stands now, the public can request information on legislative expenses through the state’s public records law, but getting those documents can take weeks and sometimes longer if there is a dispute over access.

The public could gain easy access to info about how Pa. lawmakers spend taxpayer money on perks

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison, but ended up serving less than the minimum — just over eight months — qualifying for an early release based on credit for good behavior.

Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane arrested for DUI

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy of The Inquirer

Gov. Tom Wolf delivered his final budget address to the legislature Tuesday.

Wolf asks GOP-led legislature to spend Pa.’s federal aid dollars as he pitches $1.8B boost for education

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf’s speech is expected to not only outline his policy requests but also look back at his administration’s turn at the helm of government.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s final budget address will seek to cement his legacy

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Since 1968, the year Pennsylvania’s current constitution went into effect, voters rejected only six of 49 proposed amendments that reached them.

A complete guide and amendment tracker for proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Constitution

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

The tax credit program funds scholarships for students at private and parochial schools.

A massive Pa. corporate tax break lacks basic accountability, report finds

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf

Pa. GOP answered Wolf’s pandemic vetoes with constitution changes. The strategy is here to stay.

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

Republicans in both the House and Senate have argued the constitutional amendment process ultimately gives voters the ability to set policy.

Voters could be flooded with proposed changes to the Pa. Constitution in 2023

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

In the first nine months of 2021, the legislature’s legal bills totaled $3.5 million.

Pa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessing

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

A mob of Trump supporters climbed scaffolding and took to the steps of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 06, 2021. Rioters breached the building following a rally, as Congress was preparing to certify President Joe Biden’s victory.

The Jan. 6 Capitol riot: A complete guide to what we know about Pennsylvania’s role

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

A state-owned marker in McConnellsburg, Fulton County that was revised during an official review focused on "outdated cultural references" in Pennsylvania's historical marker system.

Pennsylvania revises Confederate markers, recasts forces as “enemy” soldiers

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

With preexisting conditions that limit her mobility and increase her risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19, Cheryl Gibson of Schuylkill Haven relies on telehealth appointments.

Lack of telehealth law in Pennsylvania a major headache for patients who need it most

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Guests attend the Cozen O'Connor cocktail reception at the 21 Club in Manhattan, an event for the annual Pennsylvania Society.

Vaunted Pennsylvania Society weekend loses luster among politicos

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

New limits would curtail lobbyist perks for Pa. lawmakers, but one leader could stand in the way

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

"Many of the administrative laws, quite frankly, simply handed that power over to the executive agencies, sometimes to avoid difficult decisions," House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said Tuesday.

Top Pa. House Republican wants to greatly expand lawmakers’ power over the governor, executive branch

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

In the last two years, lawmakers have paid nearly $10 million to many of the same law firms and lawyers making contributions to wage all types of legal battles.

Pa. lawmakers hand out millions in public contracts to law firms that fill their campaign coffers

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

In many instances, Republicans and Democrats in both chambers blacked out the reason for hiring lawyers, flouting case law that requires them to make public those critical details.

Pa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers, but often don’t reveal why

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

Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson), who took over and renewed the election investigation in August after it was inactive for months, said any legislative fixes to the voter registration system will come after the inquiry ends.

GOP wants personal voter data to root out fraud. Pa. already uses a more secure system.

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Wednesday’s action will keep the waivers in place until March 2022 while the legislature considers a number of bills that would make the regulatory suspensions permanent.

At last minute, Pa. lawmakers vote to extend dozens of COVID-19 waivers

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

The House State Government Committee advanced the proposal Monday.

To avoid Wolf’s veto, Pa. GOP proposes giving voters final say on stricter ID rules, other election changes

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Senate Republicans are pursuing an investigation of the 2020 election despite no evidence of widespread fraud.

Wolf admin sues Pa. Senate Republicans over bid to collect private voter information

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia)

Pa. state Democratic lawmaker quietly stripped of committee leadership, Capitol access

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre), seen here in 2018, has pushed for the controversial review of last year's election results.

Pa. Senate GOP moves to collect private voter information in controversial review of 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) has pushed for the "election integrity" audit, which includes issuing subpoenas for election information.

Pa. GOP lawmakers to subpoena personal information on every voter in controversial 2020 election review

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

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