Politics in Brief - September 23 2019

PUSH FOR ‘JUNGLE PRIMARY’ IN FL

FLORIDA billionaire Mike Fernandez, who left the Republican Party because of his opposition to President Trump, is spending millions of dollars to place a measure before voters in 2020 that would shift the state to a “jungle primary” system, in which candidates of all parties are listed on the same ballot and the top two vote getters for each office, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. CALIFORNIA and WASHINGTON already employ such a primary system. (POLITICO, BALLOTPEDIA)

 

US HOUSE CONSIDERS DC STATEHOOD

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing - the first since 1993 - to consider legislation (HR 51) that would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. Democrats are far more united in their support for D.C. statehood than they were 25 years ago, but Republicans, who control the U.S. Senate, generally consider it a partisan ploy to get more Democrats into Congress, given the district is a Democratic stronghold. (VOX, WASHINGTON CITY PAPER)

 

PROPOSED VOTING RESTRICTIONS DEFEATED IN WY

A pair of bills in WYOMING that would have eliminated crossover voting in primary elections and required photo identification at the polls suffered committee defeats in the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature, despite their being priorities for conservatives. There were reportedly concerns that the measures would infringe on voters’ constitutional right to affiliate with the party of their choosing and would simply make it harder for people to vote, among other things. (CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE)

 

CO DITCHING ELECTION BALLOT QR CODES

COLORADO is halting its use of QR codes on election ballots over concerns they could make it easier to manipulate voting data. The state is the first in the nation to take such action. (COLORADO POLITICS)

 

TX LAWMAKERS ATTEMPT TO BAN CITY LOBBYING

A bill that would have prohibited TEXAS cities and counties from contracting outside lobbyists died in the state’s House days before the end of the legislative session. But the proposal is likely to be reintroduced in 2021, with tensions growing between conservatives who control the state’s Legislature and liberal city officials. (STATELINE)

 

FL SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILL TO ABOLISH CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION

FLORIDA’s Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill (SJR 142) that would do away with the state’s Constitution Revision Commission, which convenes every 20 years to propose constitutional amendments that go directly to voters. The legislation comes after last year’s commission combined unrelated issues into single amendments in order to obtain voter support for proposals favored by the commission’s 37 members. (MIAMI HERALD)

 

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK

CA, NY Govs Join MI, Feds in Vaping Ban

Amid a growing number of vaping-related deaths and serious illnesses, Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gavin Newsom of California, both Democrats, launched efforts last week to ban the products.

 

The actions come days after the Trump administration announced plans to impose a federal ban on the products. They also follow the lead of Michigan, where earlier this month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an executive order making the Wolverine State the first to ban flavored e-cigarettes.

 

“It is undeniable that vaping companies are deliberately using flavors like bubblegum, Captain Crunch and cotton candy to get young people hooked on e-cigarettes - it’s a public health crisis and it ends today,” Cuomo said in a statement.

 

At his request, the New York Public Health and Planning Council developed emergency rules last Tuesday that immediately ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine e-liquids in the Empire State. Cuomo also ordered the State Police and Department of Health to increase enforcement against retailers who sell to underage youth. He said he will also propose legislation to ban deceptive marketing of e-cigarettes to teens and children.

 

The announcement came a day after Newsom issued Executive Order N-18-19, a three-pronged effort that includes a $20 million ad campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of vaping. Newsom’s order also calls for a crackdown on illegal and counterfeit vaping products and a directive to state health officials to develop signs warning about the dangers of vaping to be placed at retailers and on advertising for e-cigarettes and accessories.

 

Newsom also signed SB 39, a bill that imposes stricter age verification requirements for tobacco products sold online or by mail.

 

E-cigarette use has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years, with worldwide sales of sales of vaping products topping $11 billion in 2018. But over the last year, the number of cases of illness and death associated with that use has also risen dramatically. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from early September showed almost 400 cases of vaping-related illnesses and six deaths over 36 states this year, with at least one more death since then also being attributed to vaping. (NEW YORK TIMES, NEW YORK GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, LOS ANGELES TIMES, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION)

Lujan Grisham Unveils NM Free College Plan

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) unveiled “an absolute game changer” plan to make all colleges and universities tuition-free for all in-state students, regardless of family income. The proposal, which will require legislative approval to become reality, would apply to all 29 of the state’s two- and four-year colleges and impact about 55,000 students.

 

The program would work in concert with the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship and existing federal grants to cover students’ tuition. The cost to cover what those programs do not is estimated to be between $25 and $35 million annually.

 

Many states have implemented similar plans in recent years, mostly restricted to two-year institutions. Lujan’s proposal is the only one that would apply to any student – even returning adults – at any state institution and no matter their current income status. The governor said a spike in oil revenue has put the state in a good position to pay for the plan. (NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, NEW YORK TIMES, CNN)

Governors in Brief - September 23 2019

NH LAWMAKERS SUSTAIN VAST MAJORITY OF VETOES

The NEW HAMPSHIRE Legislature upheld all but one of the 55 vetoes issued by Gov. Chris Sununu (R), including measures on gun control, renewable energy and paid family leave. The one successful veto override came on SB 88, a measure that removes a three-month waiting period before a patient can get prescribed medical marijuana from a provider. (NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO)

 

NORTHAM LAYS OUT VA RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS

VIRGINIA Gov. Ralph Northam (D) issues Executive Order Number 43, which directs the state to obtain 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050. The order also directs state agencies and public institutions to reduce electricity consumption by 10 percent by 2022, using 2006 as the baseline. (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH)

 

MO GOV PLEDGES STATE RESOURCES TO STEM ST LOUIS VIOLENCE

Saying “we know we have a serious problem with violent crime that must be addressed,” MISSOURI Gov. Mike Parson (R) pledged state resources, including more law enforcement personnel, to help quell a wave of violent crime in the St. Louis area. At least two dozen children have been shot and killed in and around the city this year. (NBC NEWS)

 

BROWN WON’T CALL OR SPECIAL SESSION ON DEATH PENALTY

Saying “There does not appear to be support to ensure passage of a bill,” OREGON Gov. Kate Brown (D) said she would not call a special session to address the effects of Senate Bill 1013, which narrowed the state’s capital punishment laws. Brown signed the bill, which removes the potential for future dangerousness as a factor for juries to determine when deciding on a sentence of death, earlier this month. Brown had said she would only call the one-day session if there was certainty that lawmakers would pass legislation. (OREGON PUBLIC RADIO)

 

EVERS INTROS WI ‘RED FLAG’ LAW

WISCONSIN Gov. Tony Evers (D) and Democratic lawmakers have proposed a “red flag” bill that would allow judges to take guns away from someone deemed to be a threat. Republican leaders in the Legislature immediately rejected the proposal, calling it an infringement on Second Amendment rights. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE)

 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

Business - September 23 2019

California Governor Signs AB 5

Calling it “landmark legislation for our workers and our economy,” CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signs AB 5, which codifies the process for determining if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The measure, which is intended to prevent companies from misclassifying workers, goes into effect on Jan. 1 2020. Rideshare companies Uber and Lyft have vowed to fund a ballot measure to overturn the law (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET).

New Hampshire House Sustains the Veto by Governor of HB 211

The NEW HAMPSHIRE House sustains the veto by Gov. Chris Sununu (R) of HB 211, which would have barred employers from asking job applicants about their previous salary history (NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO).