Politics & Policy
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Caroline Brehman
Taxpayers footed Pa.’s bill for election lawsuits. Costs went into the millions
The Pennsylvania Department of State paid law firms over $3.4 million for work on election-related lawsuits. They came from at least three political parties.
By Julia Agos -
Some in power are still mad that Pa.’s Supreme Court ruled on election law. Here’s why it matters now.
Several court watchers say the belief is more complicated than it seems, while political strategists say it’s part of a wider plan to make voting in Pennsylvania more difficult.
By Sam Dunklau -
Patrick Semansky
Biden sets up commission to study Supreme Court reform
The announcement marks the culmination of a campaign promise Biden made when repeatedly pressed on whether he would expand the Supreme Court to pack it with justices more aligned with his worldview.
By Krishnedev Calamur/NPR -
AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
Pennsylvania Supreme Court flips on signature rules for nominating petitions
The court had previously held that a petition signature could not be invalidated just because the voter’s address did not match their voter registration address.
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Fred Adams
Pa. lawmaker wants to compel Wolf administration to release details of wasted COVID-19 vaccine doses
The Health Department said just 1,589 of the more than 2.3 million doses administered as of Feb. 26 — or just .06% — were reported by providers as wasted, mostly due to vials broken in handling, syringe issues, such as bent or broken needles, or clients refusing after the vaccine dose was drawn.
By Ese Olumhense/Spotlight PA -
Matt Rourke
Court flips on signature rules for Pa. nominating petitions
Pennsylvania’s highest court says voters who sign a state political candidate’s nominating petition have to list the address where they are registered to vote or it doesn’t count.
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Patrick Semansky
Pennsylvania promises quicker, easier jobless claims system
After a year of frustration over long waits for benefits, jammed phone lines and confusing filing procedures, Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry is promising a much quicker and easier unemployment compensation claims filing system.
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(Dr. Baumlin for PA)
Philly ER doctor Kevin Baumlin declares candidacy for U.S. Senate as a Democrat
Baumlin is a prolific writer in Philadelphia publications, sharing his thoughts on the ways better economic opportunities might prevent gun violence, how virtual school is inadequate for students with special needs like dyslexia (a condition he has), and how he has seen COVID-19 exacerbate opioid use.
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Brendan Smialowski
With his legacy in mind, Biden seeks U.S. transformation with infrastructure plan
In remarks Wednesday pushing for his sweeping $2.3 trillion plan, Biden said he wants to meet with Republicans on it and hopes to negotiate in “good faith” — a political tenet that hasn’t been practiced much in Washington, D.C., in recent years.By Domenico Montanaro/NPR -
Kate Landis
A voter guide to Pennsylvania’s 2021 judicial elections
Voters will elect a slew of judges to Pa’s three statewide appellate courts — judges who will shape important policy in the state for at least a decade.
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Wilfredo Lee/AP
Task force investigates whether Trump separated families earlier than known
President Biden’s family separation task force is scouring through thousands of unreviewed files to determine whether the Trump administration began separating families within the first six months of coming into office.
By Franco Ordonez/NPR