VA Sec. Collins called a leaked memo to cut 80k jobs “a goal,” or moveable target, not an all-out plan. Democrats weren’t satisfied with the answer. wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Marijuana legalization took a big step forward in Pa. this week, as the state House passed a 173-page bill to permit use of the drug. But as the question shifts from whether, to how legalization will happen, the reform could still end up getting burnt. wesa.fm/politics-gover…

When a storm ravaged a 10-county area in Pa. late last month, 100s of thousands of customers lost power. On Wed. night, Allegheny County state House members questioned two major utility companies on why it took so long to have their service restored. wesa.fm/politics-gover…

ICYMI: There were more than 28k write-ins for GOP common pleas court candidates in Allegheny county. According to a Republican source, the surge reflects a conservative grassroots effort to displace some of the more liberal cross-filed Democrats wesa.fm/politics-gover…

ICYMI: Pa. Governor’s Residence underwent extensive security upgrades before last month’s arson attack (w/o paywall) witf.org/2025/05/22/pa-…

More on the 28,300 GOP write-in votes for Common Pleas Court candidates from Julia Zenkevich wesa.fm/politics-gover…

State Capitol after hours

Fetterman says he’ll never switch parties because he supports LGBTQ and reproductive rights. But some Pa.-based activists who are actively involved in those causes sound less sure about their support for him. wesa.fm/politics-gover…

new from me: the house passed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr in populated counties in pa, and $12/hr in others. the bill now goes to the senate, where republican leadership have said that they're open to the measure, but that $15 is too high spotlightpa.org/news/2025/06/m…

With Harrisburg legislative leaders still negotiating around the state budget due at the end of June, bills backed by Pittsburgh-area legislators took big steps forward this week. Learn about 7 of them ⬇️ wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Today Pa. House agreed to commit nearly $300M of tax money to public transportation agencies, a key part of Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal — was recently amended to include half a billion $ for road upgrades sought by Republicans wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Pa. lawmakers will have the weekend off, and deliver a late budget. Scheduled House and Senate session days for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been canceled. The budget is due Mon., but leaders expect mid-July or LATER. They still get paid even if the budget is late, since 2009

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Luzerne County Republican, has decided he won't run for Pa. governor against Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. wvia.org/news/local/202…

How Pittsburgh Rep. Dan Frankel became the lawmaker to decide the fate of a bill on transgender girls in girls’ sports, and why a vocal conservative activist and former college swimmer is sharing clips of state House debate with 1.5M followers… wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Pa. senate announces a return to Harrisburg tomorrow afternoon and Thursday morning, after the state House passes a version of the budget yesterday. Nothing yet agreed to though.. wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Does the public (or even most state lawmakers) have a say in what goes into the state budget? It’s 18 days late and details are sparse. Here’s why advocates say the process needs to change wesa.fm/politics-gover…

Gov. Josh Shapiro has increasingly leaned on taxpayer-funded communication staff to pump out videos building his personal brand, raising the hackles of good government advocates and Senate Republicans. Via Vincent DiFonzo inquirer.com/news/pennsylva…

Pennsylvanian congresswoman makes successful motion to subpoena Epstein docs 👀 wesa.fm/politics-gover…