HomeSpecial Projects & InvestigationsThe Hidden TabTaxpayers foot huge bill to run Pa.’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many details.
March 29, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerThe public could gain easy access to info about how Pa. lawmakers spend taxpayer money on perksby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Jan. 11, 2022TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
Oct. 14, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerSee the reasons why Pennsylvania’s legislature paid millions to outside law firms in 2019 and 2020 (FULL LIST)by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
Oct. 13, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers hand out millions in public contracts to law firms that fill their campaign coffersby Sam Janesch of The Caucus and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Oct. 12, 2021Leise Hook for Spotlight PAPa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers, but often don’t reveal whyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
Sept. 1, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerFor the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending recordsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
Aug. 11, 2021Tim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania Senate plans first step to enhance public access to expense informationby Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
Aug. 6, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerTheft charges brought down a state lawmaker. But Pa.’s taxpayer-funded system for perks was already ripe for abuse.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch, Mike Wereschagin, and Brad Bumsted of The Caucus
July 20, 2021Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAWATCH: A live reader Q&A on how lawmakers spend millions of taxpayer dollars on perksby Spotlight PA Staff
June 22, 2021Tom Cherry / Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans AffairsHow one Pennsylvania lawmaker billed taxpayers $1.8 million in expensesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted, Sam Janesch, and Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus
June 3, 2021Leise Hook / For Spotlight PABill would force Pa. to post online how lawmakers spend millions in tax dollars each yearby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted, Sam Janesch, and Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus
June 2, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerFive takeaways from a year-long investigation on lawmaker spendingby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA
May 14, 2021KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia InquirerSee the Pa. lawmakers who spent the most on food, lodging, mileage and moreby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, and Brad Bumsted, Sam Janesch and Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus
May 13, 2021JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerSome Pa. lawmakers tout expense transparency. Their websites tell a different story.by Sam Janesch of The Caucus
May 12, 2021CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia InquirerInside the year-long fight to figure out how the Pa. legislature spends taxpayer money on itselfby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch Of The Caucus
May 12, 2021Leise Hook / For Spotlight PATaxpayers foot huge bill to run Pa.’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many detailsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch of The Caucus
March 19, 2021James Robinson / Pennsylvania Senate Democratic CaucusBan on meal, lodging payments for Pa. lawmakers introduced as constituents sound off in angerby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
March 16, 2021Joe Hermitt / The Patriot-NewsSee how much your lawmaker banked in meal, lodging payments during the pandemic (FULL LIST)by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
March 15, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesDuring height of coronavirus pandemic, Pa. lawmakers still cashed in big on meals, lodgingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA