A proposed constitutional amendment would allow a gubernatorial candidate to choose their running mate after the spring primary, much like the presidential race.
Spotlight PA
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Spotlight PA, Inquirer sue to unseal records in ex-Democratic state lawmaker’s embezzlement case
The organizations asked a federal court to unseal records related to the conviction of former state Rep. Leslie Acosta of Philadelphia, arguing there is a high burden for restricting that access.
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The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts
Gov. Tom Wolf’s idea relies on a hefty tax increase on top third of earners, which will be a nearly impossible sell to the legislature and many in the public.
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Delay in census data could put transparency in Pa.’s redistricting process at risk
Lawmakers will likely get half as much time to draw the state’s new legislative and congressional maps, worrying advocates who have long fought for a more open process.
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The inside story of how Pennsylvania failed to deliver millions in coronavirus rent relief
A review of thousands of emails obtained by Spotlight PA reveals the program was doomed to fail from the start, depriving desperate tenants of relief as they lived in fear of losing their homes.
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Wolf administration refuses to release details after failure derails Pa. clergy sex abuse relief
The Department of State disclosed that it had no system in place to prevent such an error, which has devastated clergy sexual abuse survivors.
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Lack of targeted outreach, translated materials leaves Latino community behind as Pa. struggles with vaccine rollout
Older Pennsylvanians, who are supposed to be among the first in line to get the vaccine, are also struggling with clunky and disjointed online signups.
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How some Pa. lawmakers score a ‘golden parachute’ to pad their pensions
Ex-state legislators are frequently on the shortlist to join Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board, which boasts an annual salary of $145,000.
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Pa. voters will get the last word in struggle between Wolf and lawmakers
The legislature on Friday gave final approval to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give state lawmakers the power to unilaterally end a disaster declaration.
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In race for COVID-19 vaccinations, older residents in rural Pa. face tough obstacles
Rural counties like Sullivan are banding together to ensure older residents who lack transportation, access to providers, and internet connections can get the coronavirus vaccine.
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Pa. House moves to get legal relief for clergy abuse victims back on spring ballot
“Human error” by the Department of State derailed a constitutional amendment on whether survivors of decades-old sexual abuse should be able to sue.
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Wolf asks for tax increase on Pa.’s top third of earners amid pandemic, GOP pans proposal as ‘irresponsible’
The proposal is likely to be dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled legislature, whose leaders wasted little time shredding it with criticism, calling it unrealistic and hurtful to taxpayers.
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What the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of voting
Secretary Kathy Boockvar’s resignation has emboldened her fiercest GOP critics, even though it was not related to her handling of the closely watched vote in a battleground state.
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Pa. enacted 140 laws last year. Only 27 of them addressed the coronavirus.
The nation’s largest full-time legislature — with some of the highest-paid lawmakers — emerged from 2020 having failed to address some of the public’s most pressing needs.
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Alternate path for correcting crushing administrative error faces uphill climb
Some survivors and their advocates believe the quickest way to remedy a Department of State mistake is to abandon the time-consuming path of amending the state constitution and pursue legislation.