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Stephen Caruso

@stephenjcaruso.bsky.social

2.5K followers 690 following 510 posts

Pennsylvania Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA | Yankee Fan | Lover of leaks and wannabe internet comedian | scaruso[at]spotlightpa[dot]org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · Mar 24

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...

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

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 3h

Update: State Treasurer Stacy Garrity's office says the first impasse loans, totaling just under $4 million, have been distributed to three organizations with $9 million to 20 more organizations on the way.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 8h

Ahhh well you see, the list of legislative exemptions is quite long!

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 8h

State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R., Philly) wants to make conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's birthday, Oct. 14, an official commonwealth holiday. "Although his life was cut short, Charlie’s profound impact has been undeniably felt by Pennsylvanians of all beliefs and backgrounds."

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 9h

Absent state payments due to the ongoing budget impasse, service providers who help kids with disabilities or adults with mental health issues rack up debt that'll take years to pay off -- even as the state collects interest on unspent tax revenue.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Debt piles up for PA service providers waiting on budget plan

PA has made $40 million on frozen cash during the budget impasse. But it won’t pass on interest to service providers once that funding is released.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 2d

Commonwealth Partners, who created the misleading gerrymandering mailer, continue to lean into the "convince liberals to vote against retention" messaging per this mailer shared with me over the weekend.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 3d

I am framing this after I finish it!!

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 4d

Wired continues to go hard

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6d

Here's a small sampling of the political mail I've seen/been shared from groups trying to win retention votes/encourage turn out. A wide range!

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6d

Why they pay me the medium sized bucks!

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6d

Post script to yesterday: Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) was scheduled to have a fundraiser in Pittsburgh at the Clemente Museum last night. I emailed the listed contact and got this back:

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6d

This is the nicest bit of guilting anyone has ever done to me on here 😭

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6d

Harrisburg boiled over into a mess of acrimonious finger pointing as three months of frustration from fruitless closed door talks burst into public view as the budget impasse hit the 100 days mark Wednesday.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

PA budget impasse hits 100 days as Democrats pass $50.3B plan

PA Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman said Wednesday’s actions took negotiations over the late budget “steps backward.”

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 12d

A State College man who spent four decades in state prison on a murder conviction that was overturned in August was released at noon today, then taken back into custody by federal immigration authorities, according to a corrections dept spokesperson.
www.centredaily.com/news/local/c...

Wrongfully convicted Subu Vedam taken into ICE custody after release from prison

He is detained in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center near Philipsburg, but many questions remain.

www.centredaily.com

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 13d

Four top Pennsylvania House Republicans (including Minority Leader Jesse Topper and campaign arm chair Jamie Barton) are hosting a $30,000 a pop golf retreat at a 5-star South Carolina resort for the RLCC, which helps elect GOP state legislators nationwide.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 13d

I'm not particularly well sourced within the party (vs. say the Capitol) but my read is it shows an effort to bring the party apparatus and the governor's team closer together.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 14d

Big news: Larry Hailsham Jr. is taking over as the new executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. While new chair Eugene DePasquale was a consensus pick, Hailsham is a long time top staffer to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 14d

Harrisburg can't agree on a state budget. That leaves counties across the commonwealth, which provide the public everything from mental health to foster care, to use up reserves, cut services, or take on debt -- the cost of which taxpayers still bear.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Taxpayers may pay for ongoing PA budget impasse

With relatively few options, PA counties eye costly loans to cover expenses as the state budget impasse continues, and taxpayers may foot the bill.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 17d

News: At least seven Pennsylvania public officials, including three Shapiro admin members and Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, are in Ireland as part of a trade mission that overlaps with the Pittsburgh Steelers Dublin game this weekend.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

PA lawmakers, Shapiro officials in Ireland amid budget crisis

The trip comes amid PA’s ongoing budget impasse, which is harming counties, schools, and nonprofits.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 23d

News: Along party lines, a Pennsylvania House panel passed four bills placing stricter rules on gun ownership, including extreme risk protection orders, a ban on self-assembled firearms, and expanding background checks to long guns. The proposals advance to the chamber floor.

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 26d

SEPTA and PRT have a two year window of no service cuts or fare hikes. But small agencies across the state that connect rural communities or get seniors to medical appointments are already preparing for austerity. Via @katehuangpu.bsky.social
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

Without state aid, small PA transit systems face service cuts

With recurring state funding off the table, transit systems outside Philly and Pittsburgh are preparing for service cuts, fare hikes, and hiring freezes.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 26d

Immigration advocates called for Gov. Josh Shapiro to restrict ICE's ability to use commonwealth resources, such as databases and state prisons, and to make immigration arrests in state facilities.
whyy.org/articles/pen...

Immigrant advocates want Gov. Josh Shapiro to end state collaboration with ICE

Organizers also urged the governor to support a law that would grant driver’s licenses to all residents.

whyy.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 27d

Gov. Josh Shapiro took transit off the table last week, saying it would ease the path to a full budget deal. That has not proven to be the case. @spotlightpa.org digs into why:
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

PA budget stalemate continues despite transit deal

Gov. Josh Shapiro says funding SEPTA removed a budget obstacle. The impasse moves toward a 3rd month anyway as PA Democrats and Republicans remain divided.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · Aug 7

News: House Democrats have fast tracked yet another transportation funding bill, including accountability measures favored by Senate Republicans, as the deadline to avoid deep cuts to SEPTA and other transit agencies ticks down.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/08...

SEPTA says it will cut service if the Pa. legislature doesn’t act by Aug. 14.

A new PA House bill increases transit funding with provisions to win GOP support as SEPTA sets an Aug. 14 deadline to avoid fare hikes and service cuts.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · Aug 4

New: A @spotlightpa.org analysis has revealed 15% of the donors to Gov. Josh Shapiro's $5.4 million inaugural committee, which the admin has refused to divulge. The committee also gave $750k of it to Team PA, which has paid for Shapiro's sports tickets.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/08...

We finally know who paid for Josh Shapiro’s inauguration celebrations (kinda)

Spotlight PA traces unions, lobbyists, and corporations behind 15% of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $4M inauguration, but most donors remain undisclosed.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · Jul 29

News: Pennsylvania's budget secretary warned in letters Tuesday that at least $2.5 billion in funding for school districts, child welfare offices, ambulance services and homeless shelters among others is at risk due to the state's almost month late budget.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

PA budget impasse delays $2.5B in school, county funding

Pennsylvania lawmakers missed the June 30 budget deadline, forcing delayed funding for schools, counties, libraries, and shelters until they strike a deal.

www.spotlightpa.org

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