Stephen Caruso
@stephenjcaruso.bsky.social
Pennsylvania Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA | Yankee Fan | Die Gedanken Sind Frei | scaruso[at]spotlightpa[dot]org
Pinned
These powerful interests donated $18M to PA’s top lawmakers
Lobbyists say political donations can lead to access, but PA’s weak transparency laws make it nearly impossible to trace influence.
www.spotlightpa.org
Hi folk. Maybe you realized I've been slow on stories this year. That's because for the past 3 months, I poured over the last 2 years of campaign contributions to the governor & legislative leaders. @spotlightpa.bsky.social has the first of those findings today.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/03...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/03...
Student journalists: Want a hands on opportunity to learn government and political journalism alongside a crew of veteran reporters, diving into the machinations of a key swing state? Then apply to the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association internship!
PLCA Interships
The Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association (PLCA) offers paid summer journalism internships to two college students or recent graduates.
www.pacapitolreporters.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Student journalists: Want a hands on opportunity to learn government and political journalism alongside a crew of veteran reporters, diving into the machinations of a key swing state? Then apply to the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents' Association internship!
News: Pennsylvania has a budget, four months late, after lawmakers passed a $50.1 billion deal that continues to fund public schools, creates a tax credit for working families, reforms permitting, and pulls the state out of a plan to cap carbon emissions from power plants.
Pennsylvania ends budget impasse with $50.1B deal
Pennsylvania’s final budget boosts school funding, creates an earned income tax credit, and exits the RGGI climate initiative.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:46 PM
News: Pennsylvania has a budget, four months late, after lawmakers passed a $50.1 billion deal that continues to fund public schools, creates a tax credit for working families, reforms permitting, and pulls the state out of a plan to cap carbon emissions from power plants.
Per multiple sources: Both House Democrats and Senate Republicans have closed door meetings at 4 p.m. today as the Pennsylvania state budget hits 134 days late. Details of what will be discussed therein is still unclear.
November 11, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Per multiple sources: Both House Democrats and Senate Republicans have closed door meetings at 4 p.m. today as the Pennsylvania state budget hits 134 days late. Details of what will be discussed therein is still unclear.
Last update until full reports are in (still could be a few weeks): DoS reports $9.2 million in IE spending on the retention race as of this afternoon; $5.1 million of the reported spending is anti, mostly by two conservative, Yass-linked dark money groups.
Update: Independent expenditures on retention are now at $8.6 million and counting, per the DoS system. The newest addition is approximately $3 million in spending by Commonwealth Partners, the Yass-linked dark money group, on TV, mail, digital and texting opposing the justices.
Update: Reported IE spending jumped to $5 million overnight because Citizens for Term Limits is now in the system. It's first and only report so far is for $1.8 million in TV, digital, mail and text advertising against retention dated to 9/16/25 from Matt Brouillette.
November 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Last update until full reports are in (still could be a few weeks): DoS reports $9.2 million in IE spending on the retention race as of this afternoon; $5.1 million of the reported spending is anti, mostly by two conservative, Yass-linked dark money groups.
Anywho, amid all this, here's the latest update I got: Shapiro and Democrats may agree to end a statewide program to cap carbon from power plants to appease Senate Republicans and end the 130+ day budget impasse.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Anywho, amid all this, here's the latest update I got: Shapiro and Democrats may agree to end a statewide program to cap carbon from power plants to appease Senate Republicans and end the 130+ day budget impasse.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
And now: Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) emailed his caucus, telling them to "pack a bag" and be prepared to return to Harrisburg as soon as Tuesday evening pending ongoing budget talks.
Inbox: The Pennsylvania House has scheduled NON-VOTING session for tomorrow and VOTING session for Wednesday.
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
And now: Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) emailed his caucus, telling them to "pack a bag" and be prepared to return to Harrisburg as soon as Tuesday evening pending ongoing budget talks.
Inbox: The Pennsylvania House has scheduled NON-VOTING session for tomorrow and VOTING session for Wednesday.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Inbox: The Pennsylvania House has scheduled NON-VOTING session for tomorrow and VOTING session for Wednesday.
As it is now Friday and neither chamber has scheduled session to finish off a budget deal, I'll go ahead and share this exchange I had with a source earlier this week:
November 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
As it is now Friday and neither chamber has scheduled session to finish off a budget deal, I'll go ahead and share this exchange I had with a source earlier this week:
Upshot of the municipal election? Four sitting state lawmakers won local seats, meaning four special elections in the coming months. Those elections will be at least ~70 days (the Speaker has up to 10 days to issue a writ + minimum 60 from that date) after each's resignation.
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Upshot of the municipal election? Four sitting state lawmakers won local seats, meaning four special elections in the coming months. Those elections will be at least ~70 days (the Speaker has up to 10 days to issue a writ + minimum 60 from that date) after each's resignation.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), still mulling a gubernatorial run, shared a post from Christine Flowers with an old Politico story and the statement that if "Stacy Garrity and PA Republicans...throw pro lifers under the bus" then Gov. Josh Shapiro will win reelection.
November 6, 2025 at 9:22 PM
State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), still mulling a gubernatorial run, shared a post from Christine Flowers with an old Politico story and the statement that if "Stacy Garrity and PA Republicans...throw pro lifers under the bus" then Gov. Josh Shapiro will win reelection.
In your inbox, if you subscribe to Access Harrisburg: My way-to-early takeaways on the 2025 election from a day of talking to voters. What were they? Welllllllll that's a good subscribe!
November 6, 2025 at 5:22 PM
In your inbox, if you subscribe to Access Harrisburg: My way-to-early takeaways on the 2025 election from a day of talking to voters. What were they? Welllllllll that's a good subscribe!
Reposted by Stephen Caruso
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have just authorized a massive strike.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
November 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have just authorized a massive strike.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
State Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philly) has reintroduced a bill to allow for ranked choice voting in Pennsylvania. It has the support of five other Democrats.
www.palegis.us/legislation/...
www.palegis.us/legislation/...
www.palegis.us
November 5, 2025 at 10:28 PM
State Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philly) has reintroduced a bill to allow for ranked choice voting in Pennsylvania. It has the support of five other Democrats.
www.palegis.us/legislation/...
www.palegis.us/legislation/...
Inbox: Montgomery County, a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia, reports nearly 50% (!!!!) turnout in yesterday's off-year judicial and municipal election.
November 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Inbox: Montgomery County, a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia, reports nearly 50% (!!!!) turnout in yesterday's off-year judicial and municipal election.
News: Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices first elected as Democrats have won new terms in a race marked by millions of interest group spending and increased polarization of what were previously pro forma affairs.
November 5, 2025 at 3:08 AM
News: Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices first elected as Democrats have won new terms in a race marked by millions of interest group spending and increased polarization of what were previously pro forma affairs.
Reposted by Stephen Caruso
This update puts my total spending estimate around $20.5 million - the most expensive state supreme court retention election in decades and possibly ever.
Overwhelming majority of that money is pro-retention
Overwhelming majority of that money is pro-retention
Update: Independent expenditures on retention are now at $8.6 million and counting, per the DoS system. The newest addition is approximately $3 million in spending by Commonwealth Partners, the Yass-linked dark money group, on TV, mail, digital and texting opposing the justices.
Update: Reported IE spending jumped to $5 million overnight because Citizens for Term Limits is now in the system. It's first and only report so far is for $1.8 million in TV, digital, mail and text advertising against retention dated to 9/16/25 from Matt Brouillette.
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This update puts my total spending estimate around $20.5 million - the most expensive state supreme court retention election in decades and possibly ever.
Overwhelming majority of that money is pro-retention
Overwhelming majority of that money is pro-retention
Update: Independent expenditures on retention are now at $8.6 million and counting, per the DoS system. The newest addition is approximately $3 million in spending by Commonwealth Partners, the Yass-linked dark money group, on TV, mail, digital and texting opposing the justices.
Update: Reported IE spending jumped to $5 million overnight because Citizens for Term Limits is now in the system. It's first and only report so far is for $1.8 million in TV, digital, mail and text advertising against retention dated to 9/16/25 from Matt Brouillette.
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.
November 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Update: Independent expenditures on retention are now at $8.6 million and counting, per the DoS system. The newest addition is approximately $3 million in spending by Commonwealth Partners, the Yass-linked dark money group, on TV, mail, digital and texting opposing the justices.
Reposted by Stephen Caruso
If the game hits 2am Eastern the score is reset to an hour before and everyone has to repeat exactly what they did to preserve the space time continuum, thems the rules
November 2, 2025 at 3:52 AM
If the game hits 2am Eastern the score is reset to an hour before and everyone has to repeat exactly what they did to preserve the space time continuum, thems the rules
Reposted by Stephen Caruso
This is true. I am very glad the Commonwealth is taking action where it can, but the charitable food system still needs a lot of help trying to serve folks in need given the size and scale of the problem.
Find your Feeding America food bank here:
Find your Feeding America food bank here:
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is true. I am very glad the Commonwealth is taking action where it can, but the charitable food system still needs a lot of help trying to serve folks in need given the size and scale of the problem.
Find your Feeding America food bank here:
Find your Feeding America food bank here:
House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philly) on Shapiro's food banks funding: "As two million Pennsylvanians – including hundreds of thousands of children – were at risk of going hungry, Governor Shapiro exercised real leadership to find a responsible solution."
Inbox: Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced he is giving $5 million in state dollars to food banks as SNAP funds hit a wall, and has raised an addirional $1 million in private dollars for food banks from the likes of Mark Cuban and Thomas Tull.
October 31, 2025 at 7:45 PM
House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philly) on Shapiro's food banks funding: "As two million Pennsylvanians – including hundreds of thousands of children – were at risk of going hungry, Governor Shapiro exercised real leadership to find a responsible solution."
Inbox: Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced he is giving $5 million in state dollars to food banks as SNAP funds hit a wall, and has raised an addirional $1 million in private dollars for food banks from the likes of Mark Cuban and Thomas Tull.
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Inbox: Gov. Josh Shapiro has announced he is giving $5 million in state dollars to food banks as SNAP funds hit a wall, and has raised an addirional $1 million in private dollars for food banks from the likes of Mark Cuban and Thomas Tull.
The latest on budget talks: These are the first in-person, five party conversations since June 30, a source told @spotlightpa.org They were convened by Shapiro. What's on the table, what progress has been made, or timelines for completion are unclear.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Is the PA budget impasse inching toward an end?
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro and the leaders from all four legislative caucuses met in person this week at the state Capitol.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The latest on budget talks: These are the first in-person, five party conversations since June 30, a source told @spotlightpa.org They were convened by Shapiro. What's on the table, what progress has been made, or timelines for completion are unclear.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Update: Reported IE spending jumped to $5 million overnight because Citizens for Term Limits is now in the system. It's first and only report so far is for $1.8 million in TV, digital, mail and text advertising against retention dated to 9/16/25 from Matt Brouillette.
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.
Despite weeks of ads on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court retention elections, public reports are missing some big political spenders. The culprit? The state's loophole ridden system for reporting independent political spending.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Update: Reported IE spending jumped to $5 million overnight because Citizens for Term Limits is now in the system. It's first and only report so far is for $1.8 million in TV, digital, mail and text advertising against retention dated to 9/16/25 from Matt Brouillette.
Remember the voter registration issues in three Pennsylvania counties right before the 2024 election? @votebeat.org reports that the issue was third party canvassers who, following pay incentives, submitted incomplete and inaccurate forms.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Charges in PA highlight problems with voter registration drives
Election officials in PA say third-party voter registration drives can result in canvassers submitting incomplete or invalid registrations.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Remember the voter registration issues in three Pennsylvania counties right before the 2024 election? @votebeat.org reports that the issue was third party canvassers who, following pay incentives, submitted incomplete and inaccurate forms.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.
Despite weeks of ads on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court retention elections, public reports are missing some big political spenders. The culprit? The state's loophole ridden system for reporting independent political spending.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Why PA Supreme Court retention race spending is hard to track
Blame it on a mix of lagging reporting, weakly enforced rules, and a campaign finance system that requires little transparency.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.