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Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor says the Wolf administration's COVID-19 business waiver program was inconsistent and sowed confusion.

Gov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

One waiver expanded who could administer a vaccine dose.

Expiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worse

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

The Amistad Project firm has led litigation to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, including in Pennsylvania.

Pa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election results

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017 vetoed legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks.

The Supreme Court’s decision on a Texas abortion ban raises the stakes for the Pa. governor’s race

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Reports that show all 50 senators’ spending for the month of July were posted to the Senate’s website Wednesday morning, alongside spending information for the chief clerk and secretary.

For the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending records

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

At the start of every session, legislators in the Democratic and Republican caucuses in both chambers gather behind closed doors to elect a slate of leaders.

Pa.’s legislative leaders wield extraordinary power, and the audit fight proves it

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

As recently as June, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) assured colleagues he was focused squarely on the future: “We don’t need to relitigate 2020.”

The 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 Inquirer

Supporters of ex-President Donald Trump have pushed for an audit of Pennsylvania's election results as they advance false claims of widespread voter fraud.

What we know about the renewed push for a ‘forensic audit’ of Pennsylvania’s 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

“For most of the past 18 months, the legislature has asked for my administration to defer to local governments and local organizations when making mitigation decisions,” Gov. Tom Wolf wrote in a letter to Republican leaders. “It is clear that action is needed to ensure children are safe as they return to the classroom.”

Republican leaders reject Wolf’s call to pass school mask mandate

by Jamie Martines and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The state Senate and House together spend on average $50 million per year, not including generous salaries and benefits.

Pennsylvania Senate plans first step to enhance public access to expense information

by Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The Caucus

Former state Rep. Margo Davidson was charged in July with stealing from taxpayers and misusing campaign funds, helping her pad a legislative salary that’s already among the most generous in the country.

Theft charges brought down a state lawmaker. But Pa.’s taxpayer-funded system for perks was already ripe for abuse.

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

Republican strategist Charlie Gerow.

Pa. GOP strategist running for governor being investigated for fatal crash on Turnpike

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Rep. Margo Davidson

Pa. state lawmaker from Delaware County charged with theft after years-long investigation

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Vinny Vella of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Gov. Tom Wolf criticizing a Republican election overhaul bill in Delaware County last month. Now that he says he's open to voter ID changes, Republicans plan to introduce an updated version of the legislation.

Pa. Republicans are bringing their election bill back after Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s open to voter ID changes

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia Inquirer

About $20 million went into lawmakers’ pockets over four years in the form of reimbursements for meals, mileage subsidies, per diems, and other expenses.

WATCH: A live reader Q&A on how lawmakers spend millions of taxpayer dollars on perks

by Spotlight PA Staff

Lawmakers will question top health department officials this week about why they are rushing another contact tracing program agreement after the state fired the last company for a data breach.

Pa. requested $340 million in emergency contracts in 2020 with little oversight

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

The state's next congressional map will begin its journey through the legislature in the House and Senate State Government Committees, chaired by Rep. Seth Grove (pictured) and Sen. David Argall.

Pa. House GOP commits to public meetings, vows ‘most transparent’ congressional redistricting process ever

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Reporting interns covering the state Capitol reflect on the work after a very busy June.

Q&A: Meet this summer’s Capitol reporting interns

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Advocates — including Levi Fetterman, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's family dog — have called on the legislature to increase the licensing fee paid by dog owners.

Why a funding boost for the office that exposes Pa. puppy mills stalled again

by Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PA

Jennifer Storm resigned from her $123,000 position earlier this year, several months after the Republican-controlled state Senate blocked her from serving another six years as Pennsylvania’s victim advocate.

Ethics panel closes investigation into former Pa. Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Democrats want to spend relief dollars this fall, while the GOP hopes to focus on election reform and extending pandemic regulatory waivers.

Pa. lawmakers are on summer break. Here are 5 issues they’ll face this fall.

by Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PA

“This bill is ultimately not about improving access to voting or election security, but about restricting the freedom to vote,” the governor said in a statement.

Pennsylvania governor vetoes GOP-led election overhaul citing voter ID restrictions

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Philadelphia’s citywide plastic bag ban will go into effect next month, but it will not be fully enforced and implemented until April 2022.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh move ahead with plastic bag bans as Pennsylvania’s preemption nears its end

by Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PA

Unlike in years past, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled legislature headed into this June’s budget season with a financial windfall.

Pa.’s $40 billion budget includes more money for poorest school districts, saves bulk of federal relief funding

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Democrats call any new ID restrictions “voter suppression,” while Republicans say it makes elections more secure. The reality is more complicated.

As Pa. House advances doomed election overhaul, Senate GOP charts different course to voter ID, other changes

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

The move diminished anti-gerrymandering advocates’ hopes of preventing Pennsylvania’s most powerful lawmakers from drawing maps that unfairly benefit one political party.

Panel agrees to put guardrails on how Pa. lawmakers draw congressional maps, but not their own

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

“I can’t believe that,” Rep. Chris Sainato said in a recent interview when told of his expenses. “I don’t know where you are getting $1.8 million.”

How one Pennsylvania lawmaker billed taxpayers $1.8 million in expenses

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

Despite two audits and assurances from every level of government that the election was free of widespread fraud, Sen. David Argall (R., Schuylkill) told Spotlight PA he does not see the “damage in doing it one more time to try to answer the concerns that people have.”

Key Pennsylvania state senator backs Arizona-style election audit

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Some members of the board unsuccessfuly tried to oust Glen Grell, the former Republican state legislator who leads the PSERS fund, and investment chief James H. Grossman Jr. (pictured here), a fund veteran who is the highest-paid employee in state government.

Money, power, scandal: The PSERS saga, explained

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

“The fact that we haven’t gotten this bill done is what so frustrates people about politics,” Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia), one of three openly LGBTQ people serving in the legislature, said Tuesday on the steps of the Capitol.

Wolf, Pa. Democrats again push for passage of LGBTQ discrimination protections

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

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