Sean Kitchen is the Keystone’s political correspondent, based in Harrisburg. Sean is originally from Philadelphia and spent five years working as a writer and researcher for Pennsylvania Spotlight.
Sean Kitchen
Latest from Sean Kitchen
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PA Democrats Push for Permanent Funding for Home Repair Program Amid Huge Demand
The program, which allows low-income residents and small-scale landlords to apply for government-funded grants to weatherize and make the necessary repairs to their homes, has received so many applications that housing advocates are calling for recurring permanent funding in the Pennsylvania Budget.
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Pennsylvania House Democrats Vote to Raise the Minimum Wage for the First Time Since 2007
House Democrats passed a bill raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage for the first time since 2007. House Bill 1500 raises the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour in three stages by Jan. 1, 2026 and then adjusts it to inflation beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
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Biden Launches Reelection Campaign With Union Members in Philadelphia
During his speech, Biden highlighted his first term accomplishments, which included his response to the pandemic, and passing the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act.
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PA House Dems Renew Push to Fix Pennsylvania’s Aging and Toxic School Buildings
House Democrats hosted a press conference on Wednesday asking for increased funding to fix Pennsylvania’s aging and toxic schools. Their budget includes $350 million to fix exposure to asbestos, lead, mold, radon, and weather.
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Pa. House Democrats Advance Compromise Bill to Raise the Minimum Wage
Pennsylvania House Democrats advanced a bill out of the House Labor and Industry Committee to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. The bill raises the tipped minimum wage and sets the minimum wage to inflation.
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Popular ‘Solar for Schools’ Bill Held Up by Republican Immigration Amendment
Republican State. Rep. Martina White attached an unrelated immigration amendment to the Solar for Schools legislation, which has bipartisan support from members of the Pennsylvania legislature. Supporters are calling for a clean passage of the bill.
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Pennsylvania House Democrats Pass Bills to Lower Taxes for Working Families
The legislation could help lower- and middle-income families save hundreds of dollars a year on their taxes on average and help reduce the costs of childcare for all families.
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A Pennsylvania Dad Lost His Son to Gun Violence. Now He Fights for Stronger Gun Laws.
Terrance Slade Sr. lost his only son, Teddy Slade, to gun violence almost 10 years ago. Now, he’s sharing his story as a gun violence survivor.
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Pa. House Approves Bill to Spend $100 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds on Mental Health
Most of the funds will go towards retaining and recruiting behavioral health workers, investing in suicide prevention programs, and expanding criminal justice and public safety programs.
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Nurses Secure Major Victory as Pennsylvania House Advances Patient Safety Act
The House Health Committee passed the Patient Safety Act, which would mandate safe staffing ratios in hospitals across Pennsylvania. Nurses celebrated this first important step after spending decades advocating for this legislation. A full floor vote is expected in the coming weeks.
