Year in Review – 2021

Economy Berks Country Pharmacann makes medical marijuana products. (Reading Eagle Photo via Getty Images)
Economy PA Blunt About Legalizing Recreational Marijuana: Three Bills Introduced in 2021 Haven’t Been Passed

The majority-GOP state Legislature has not advanced any of the bills that would legalize recreational marijuana, even though studies show most Pennsylvanians support it.

Ashley Adams Ashley Adams December 31, 2021 2:44 pm EST
Jobs Activists with Our Revolution hold $15 minimum wage signs outside the US Capitol complex in February 2021, to call on Congress to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. (CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images/Bill Clark)
Jobs Pennsylvania Republicans Refused to Advance Bills to Raise the Minimum Wage in 2021

The minimum wage in Pennsylvania has remained the same since 2009, despite state legislators introducing seven bills in an attempt to raise it.

Ashley Adams Ashley Adams December 30, 2021 3:55 pm EST
LGBTQ Gov. Tom Wolf and state Reps. Jessica Benham (at podium), Dan Frankel, Malcolm Kenyatta, and Brian Sims speak at a news conference to unveil the Pennsylvania Fairness Act in June. The bill, which would ban discrimination against LGBTQ communities, has been sitting in committee for months. (Courtesy of Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
LGBTQ GOP Lawmakers Failed Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ Communities Again in 2021

Republicans could have stepped up this year to prevent LGBTQ discrimination and remove stigmatizing language in the PA criminal code. They chose not to.

Patrick Berkery Patrick Berkery December 29, 2021 1:55 pm EST
Reproductive Rights State Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) speaks at a news conference about the Pennsylvania Women's Health Protection Act. (Courtesy of Pennsylvania House of Representatives)
Reproductive Rights Pennsylvania Republicans Waged War on Reproductive Rights in 2021

Republicans are ignoring laws that could help pregnant women, and continuing to pursue harsh anti-abortion laws.

Haley O'Brien Haley O'Brien December 28, 2021 3:54 pm EST
Economy Shown is the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Economy Republicans Have Billions to Help Pennsylvanians Impacted By the Pandemic. So Why Aren’t They Helping?

Republicans Have Billions to Help Pennsylvanians Impacted By the Pandemic. So Why Aren’t They Helping?

Patrick Berkery Patrick Berkery December 27, 2021 8:51 am EST

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Chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson, speaks during a hearing at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Elections Days Before Primary, State Sen. Dush Wants All Pa. Counties to Stop Using Ballot Drop Boxes
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