Author

Casey Quinlan
Casey Quinlan is the national economy reporter for States Newsroom, which supports the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Study: States that limit business with banks that ‘boycott’ fossil fuels could pay high cost
By: Casey Quinlan - January 13, 2023
Republican state policymakers’ efforts to boost fossil fuels by prohibiting their governments from doing business with companies that take sustainability into consideration has the potential to cost states millions, according to a study released Thursday. Researchers looked specifically at the possible effects on Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and West Virginia if they passed Texas-like […]
Here’s what you need to know about new workplace protections for pregnant, nursing workers
By: Casey Quinlan - January 5, 2023
U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., co-sponsored the measure strengthening pregnant workers’ rights.
Voters embraced affordable housing initiatives. Advocates say Congress should do the same.
By: Casey Quinlan - January 1, 2023
'It's a structural problem with the housing market, where housing prices keep going up, costs of construction have increased, and incomes haven't necessarily kept up with that part of the market,' an expert said.
Child poverty rates highest in states that haven’t raised minimum wage
By: Casey Quinlan - December 25, 2022
Of the 20 states that have failed to raise the minimum wage above the federal $7.25 an hour standard, 16 have more than 12% of their children living in poverty, according to a States Newsroom analysis of wage and poverty data. Anti-poverty advocates say that’s a sign that there’s an urgent need for lawmakers to […]
Here’s when drug prices will start to decrease for Medicare recipients | Analysis
By: Casey Quinlan - December 5, 2022
Medicare patients spent $1 billion on insulin in 2020, according to Kaiser Family Foundation.
Two communities find a cure for medical debt: pandemic stimulus funds
By: Casey Quinlan - November 19, 2022
In Pennsylvania, 10.42 percent of the Keystone State's population carried medical debt, with an average debt of $1,473.
The Fed raises interest rates again, signals more coming despite pressure to slow the pace
By: Casey Quinlan - November 3, 2022
The Federal Reserve announced on Wednesday that in its continuing efforts to tamp down inflation, it would raise interest rates yet again by another three-quarters of a point to a target range of 3.75 to 4 percent. Federal Reserve Chairperson Jerome Powell said during a press conference following the announcement that the “historically fast pace” […]
Millions of workers are dealing with long COVID. Advocates call for expanding social safety net
By: Casey Quinlan - October 23, 2022
Sixteen million people of working age in the U.S. suffer with long COVID and of those, from 2 to 4 million people were unemployed in June and July.
Costs of incarceration rise as inflation squeezes inmates, families
By: Casey Quinlan - October 16, 2022
Advocates, prisoners, and families are pushing for policy changes to bring commissary prices down. Lawmakers are starting to listen.
GOP leaders target ‘woke’ investments through state pension funds
By: Casey Quinlan - September 19, 2022
Republicans are arguing that financial managers are putting ideology ahead of making money.