judy-ward
Pa. Republicans eye constitutional amendment to restrict top health official, confine powers
A group of three Republican senators announced plans for an amendment that would tie the state health secretary’s response powers to an existing public health disaster emergency declaration.
State officials decertify Fulton Co. election system following third-party audit
The decertification of Fulton County’s voting system comes weeks after Degraffenreid warned that county voting systems could be decertified if they were subjected to a post-election third party review.
Bill banning COVID-19 ‘vaccine passports’ on its way to Gov. Tom Wolf, who vows veto
Legislation that would ban local and county governments, as well as public school districts and colleges and universities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations, colloquially referred to as “vaccine passports,” is on its way to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk. The 29-21 party-line vote in the Republican-controlled state Senate comes a day after the majority GOP […]
Pa. Senate sends Voter ID constitutional amendment to House for review
Wednesday’s Senate vote comes one day after the GOP-controlled House passed a Republican rewrite of Pennsylvania’s election code.
Despite questions on process, Senate committee advances proposed constitutional change on Voter ID
A proposed constitutional change that would require Pennsylvanians to show identification every time they vote is headed to the floor of the Pennsylvania state Senate. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 15-9 party-line vote on Monday, which means it could come before the full Senate soon. […]
GOP lawmakers want to change Pa.’s voter ID requirements. Here’s how
If you’re a Pennsylvania voter, the only time you have to show identification at the polls is if it’s your first time casting a ballot at that location. Two state senators want to change that. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto legislation that would require voters to show ID every time they vote. […]
Senate advances ‘vaccine passport’ bill with new measure to restrict health secretary; Wolf will veto
Three weeks after voters limited the emergency powers of Gov. Tom Wolf and his successors, the Pennsylvania state Senate has moved to impose similar restrictions on the state health secretary. The GOP-controlled chamber voted 29-20 on Wednesday to approve legislation that prohibits the Keystone State’s top public health official from mandating stay-at-home orders, imposing masking […]
Pennsylvania’s vaccine program is flailing. Nurses in the statehouse are out to fix it
State Sen. Maria Collett was beyond frustrated – and she wasn’t trying to hide it.
Senate Republicans silent as another lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19
Republicans who control the state Senate ignored requests for comment from the Capital-Star and other news organizations on Monday, even as another lawmaker who attended a hearing in Gettysburg last week tested positive for COVID-19.