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Listening to GOP lawmakers, Pa. House committee doesn’t vote on citizen-drawn map
Advocates, Democrats wait to see that they've been heard on congressional lines.
Street says Senate congressional draft is fair, protects minority voters; Democrats say he sold out
The Legislature must pass a map, and Gov. Tom Wolf must sign it, by Jan. 24.
Pa. House Republicans pick citizen map submission as draft congressional plan
The map was drawn by Lehigh County resident Amanda Holt who has been a frequent advocate for redistricting reform.
Republicans say voter ID will increase voters’ trust in elections; researchers say otherwise
Add in a lack of faith in the GOP proper, and compromise on election reforms is seemingly hard to come by.
Pa. House GOP lawmaker proposes Santa tax credit
The exact scope of the credit is unclear; the accompanying memo did not get into specifics, and exact legislation has not yet been introduced.
Sunoco to pay $4.3M for spill that polluted Chester County state park; pipeline construction rerouted
The builder of a controversial pipeline will be required to repair a state park in Chester County that it polluted more than a year ago with drilling fluid, according to a settlement the Wolf administration announced Monday. Sunoco Pipeline L.P., a subsidiary of Dallas-based Energy Transfer L.P., must dredge a lake in Marsh Creek State […]
Pa.’s carbon fee for power plants is ready to be enacted, but legislative agency says it can’t yet
Final approval may be delayed until early January due to a technical dispute between Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and the legislative agency that circulates new laws and regulations.
Despite their millions, GOP hopefuls Dr. Oz, White using pre-checked boxes for extra campaign cash
The practice pioneered by former President Donald Trump has been denounced as unethical. The Federal Election Commission wants Congress to ban it.
Wolf vetoes bill to allow permitless concealed carry in Pennsylvania
In his veto message, the Democratic governor said the bill would "only exacerbate gun violence and jeopardize the safety of all Pennsylvanians."
Advocates want a more diverse General Assembly. But making that a reality is complicated
If the composition of the General Assembly matched Pennsylvania’s rapidly diversifying population, there would be at least 47 lawmakers who were not white. Instead, there are just 31 elected state legislators who are not white. The space between Harrisburg and reality could be chalked up to a multitude of things, but as legislative leaders hammer […]
Bucks County students push to make the Hershey’s Kiss Pa.’s state candy
To build civic engagement, eight students and a Bucks County middle school teacher are pushing for Pennsylvania to pick its newest state symbol — the Hershey’s Kiss, as the official state candy. The effort was officially launched last week, when state Rep. Tom Mehaffie, R-Dauphin, circulated a memo on legislation to name the Kiss as […]
Pa. House Majority Leader Benninghoff tests positive for COVID-19
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, received a positive COVID-19 result Monday. Benninghoff is fully vaccinated, according to his office, and was tested prior to Thanksgiving after developing mild symptoms. He has been quarantined since his test last week, and has continued to work from home. His district offices remain open, his office said in […]