Gov. Tom Wolf ordered a special session of the General Assembly to begin Monday, January 9.

Both chambers have been called back to Harrisburg to consider a proposed amendment to Pennsylvania’s constitution seeking to aid survivors of child sexual abuse.

Lawmakers have until January 27 to act on the amendment in order for it to make it onto the May primary ballot.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced he has scheduled a special election to fill Pennsylvania’s U.S. House District 12 seat for May 21.

Last week, Rep. Tom Marino announced he would be resigning to take a job in the private sector.

The special election coincides with the state’s primary election date.

Rep. Tom Marino announced his resignation from the U.S. House of Representatives on January 17.

Marino said he has accepted a job in the private sector, and his last day in Congress will be January 23.

Gov. Tom Wolf will have 10 days to set a date for a special election to fill the vacancy in the 12th Congressional District.

Governor Tom Wolf was re-elected in Pennsylvania with a resounding 57.6 percent of the vote.  Republican challenger Scott Wagner did not pose a challenge, winning only 40.8 percent of the vote.

The win does not come as a surprise, as Governor Wolf led by double digits in every independent poll preceding the election.

Governor Wolf indicated he would continue working on his first-term priorities, including school funding.

He has advocated for many liberal causes, including ending the death penalty and expanding Medicaid.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election on the same day as the general election, November 6. The special election will fill the seats left open with the resignations of U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent.

The winners of the special election would complete the terms of the departing representatives for November and December of this year. The representatives elected during the general election will start their two-year term in 2019.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent decided to not seek re-election last year to spend more time with family and is expected to leave office this month.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan retired last Friday, after the U.S. House Ethics Committee opened an investigation earlier this year regarding the use of official congressional funds to pay a former staffer’s sexual harassment settlement.

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This week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced what he called a 21st century voting reform plan. This announcement follows an ethics reform plan announced by Gov. Wolf earlier this month.

The voting reform plan includes creating an independent commission to draw electoral maps, expanded voting rights through simpler voter registration, and campaign finance reform.

The proposed campaign finance reform could include restrictions on contributions from political action committees and contribution limits.

Both Democratic and Republican legislators will be working to introduce bills towards the Governor’s efforts.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced his Citizen First ethics reform plan this week. Gov. Wolf, who took office in 2015, has been a proponent of broad ethics and government reform.

The Citizens First ethics reform plan includes a gift ban for all public officials. Gov. Wolf already banned members of his administration from accepting gifts but is seeking a broader permanent ban to stop politicians from accepting unlimited gifts.

Along with a gift ban, the plan includes campaign finance reform creating contribution limits, restriction on political action committees, and heightened reporting requirements.

The proposed campaign finance reform would also include pay-to-play provisions requiring the disclosure of campaign contributions made by entities seeking contracts with the state.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed House Bill 1175 into law, amending filing requirements and penalties for lobbyists.

The new law requires electronic filing of lobbying disclosures and increases the monetary penalties assessed for late reports.

Fines between $50 and $200 per day, depending on the number of days late, can now be levied and the maximum penalty increases from $2,000 to $4,000.

These new penalties take effect immediately and the electronic filing requirement takes effect in 60 days.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced a special election for the 18^th U.S. House District will be held on March 13, 2018, in order to fill the remainder of Rep. Tim Murphy’s term.

There is no special primary election, so each party will select a candidate to run in the special election.

Rep. Murphy resigned last week after it was revealed he had an affair with a married woman and urged her to get an abortion.