A SMASHING SUCCESS : Looking for a way to show off the impact of legislation he authored to help low income people get out of gas guzzlers and into high-mileage, low-emissions vehicles, California Senate pro Tem Kevin de Leon decided to take a “go...
It hasn’t been a good last few years for keeping California’s elected officials out of trouble with the law, with three Senators arrested in felony corruption cases and at least four lawmakers arrested for drunk driving. There is only so much...
Don’t expect to see any smiling baby faces on beer labels in New Hampshire any time soon. As the Associated Press reports, Gov. Maggie Hassan vetoed a measure that would have allowed the Green Mountain State liquor commission to consider letting...
Editor: Rich Ehisen Associate Editor: Korey Clark Contributing Editor: Mary Peck, David Giusti Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Lauren Davis (MA), Steve Karas (CA) and Ben Livingood (PA), Cathy Santsche (CA), Dena Blodgett...
In this guest post for Procurement Leaders Mark Dunn, Segment Leader for Risk at LexisNexis, shares his views on supply chain visibility and strategies to mitigate the impact of international and domestic sanctions. Widening impact of sanctions for...
As organizations navigate economic peaks and valley, ‘doing more with less’ is a common refrain. Instead of leading to a Zen state of mind, however, this mantra is leading to increased anxiety among information professionals who are seeing...
A bill introduced last week in California would overhaul Proposition 13 -- the landmark property tax limit initiative approved by the state’s voters in 1978 -- to allow regular reassessments of commercial and industrial properties. Currently such...
The popularity of hybrid, electric and alternative-fuel vehicles may be good for the environment but not for states that rely on gas taxes to fund the maintenance and construction of their roads and bridges. Oregon, however, is about to launch a program...
The nation’s economy is in its sixth consecutive year of recovery from the Great Recession. But many states are still dealing with major budget problems. Kansas is facing a $400 million budget gap, Louisiana is grappling with a $1.6 billion shortfall...
For 45 states, the fiscal year begins on July l, by which they’re required to have a budget in place. But disagreements about how to close budget holes or expand Medicaid have already forced special sessions in Alaska, Florida, Illinois and Washington...
CA Proposes SB 789 Drought-inspired legislation proposed in CALIFORNIA would authorize local water authorities to seek voter approval to impose 300 percent taxes on the bills of excessive water users. The bill (SB 789) needs a two-thirds majority in...
The website of Arizona’s Department of Weights and Measures was hacked this month by a group calling itself the Middle East Cyber Army (MECA). The agency, which ensures the accuracy of various meters and scales, as well as licenses vehicles for...
A bill that would make it tougher to get an initiative on the Maine ballot is on the verge of passage in the state’s Legislature. As amended, SB 272 (LD 742) would require sponsors of initiative campaigns to collect signatures from at least 10 percent...
TEXAS Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said last week he did not plan to call a special session to consider legislation to bar county clerks from issuing same-sex marriage licenses despite calls for that action. A ruling is expected soon from the U.S. Supreme Court...
Things are getting ugly in Maine, where lawmakers overturned a flurry of vetoes by Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), who has vowed to block every bill sponsored by a Democrat until the Legislature approves his proposed constitutional amendment that would allow...
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) issued an executive order last week raising the minimum wage to $10.10 for hundreds of state workers under the executive branch’s purview. The order (EO 2015-370) will impact about 800 workers and cost the state approximately...
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot (R) signed a package of bills that will commit hundreds of millions of state dollars to bolster security along the Texas-Mexico border. The measures, HB 10, HB 11 and HB 12, collectively contain a wide array of elements, including...
Two sitting governors made big announcements about their futures last week: NEVADA Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) said he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by the Silver State’s retiring senior U.S. Senator Harry Reid, and VERMONT Gov....
OR Approves SB 454 The OREGON Senate approves SB 454, a bill that would require all Beaver State businesses with 10 or more employees to offer workers at least five days of paid sick leave each year. It moves to the House (PORTLAND OREGONIAN). VT...
LA House Approves HB 149 The LOUISIANA House gives final approval to HB 149, which would enact several new policies designed to temper penalties for marijuana possession in the Pelican State, including dropping the maximum penalty from 20 years in...
The WISCONSIN Senate and Assembly approve SB 70, a bill that would allow off-duty and retired officers to carry guns in schools. It moves to Gov. Scott Walker (R) for consideration (TELEGRAPH HERALD [DUBUQUE]).
U.S. Court of Appeals Rules Coal Producers Emissions Reduction Challenge Premature The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejects a challenge by coal companies and 14 coal-producing states that sought to block a proposed...
NY Approves AB 7060 The NEW YORK Assembly approves AB 7060, which would allow emergency access to medical marijuana for patients with illnesses like epilepsy. It is now in the Senate (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE). FL Signs HB 751 FLORIDA...
TEXAS Gov. Greg Abbot (R) signs SB 374, which requires state agencies, colleges and universities to use the federal electronic employment verification system known as E-Verify when screening job applicants. The bill codifies into law an executive order...
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds TX Surgical Center Standards A three-judge panel of the 5 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a TEXAS law that requires Lone Star State clinics that perform abortions to meet ambulatory surgical center standards...