Partisan gridlock has hardly been unique to Washington, D.C. lately. Political differences between Pennsylvania’s Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and Republicans who control the state’s General Assembly delayed passage of that state’s budget...
For years recycling programs have allowed cities, counties and states to improve the environment while saving money on landfill fees and even making money from the sale of recycled materials to processors. But that was made possible by sky high world...
Yes, not only is children’s bingo really a thing, one New Hampshire lawmaker wants to open up the kiddie games to adults. Under Granite State law, hotels and campgrounds can hold bingo games for kids or for adults as long as the two don’t...
Public employee unions were the beneficiaries of the first major case to result in a 4-4 tie vote in the U.S. Supreme Court since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Conservatives had challenged the fees such unions collect from non-members to pay for...
Last month, Missouri lawmakers invoked for the first time the power they were granted by voters in 2014 (Amendment 10) to overturn gubernatorial budget restrictions. With bipartisan support the state’s Republican-led House voted to release $575...
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) joined with legislative leaders last week on legislation (SB 3) to raise the Golden State minimum wage to $15.00 by 2022 for larger companies and 2023 for smaller businesses. And he thinks other states will follow their...
After a presidential primary last month marred by long lines at polling places and voter frustration, Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan (R), the state’s top election official, said she was backing legislation to shift the state from government...
After years of positive reports about Colorado’s economy as it surged out of the Great Recession, the General Assembly’s economist warned last month that the state could be headed for a recession. Legislative Council economist Larson...
Business In NJ The NEW JERSEY House gives final approval to AB 2750, a bill that will make it illegal for employers to pay workers of different genders different wages for doing “substantially similar work.” It is now with Gov. Chris Christie...
The folks at Mohawk High School in Sycamore, Ohio were recently very happy to welcome state Sen. Izaha Akins to talk to students about the joys of being in government. The school had been expecting Sen. David Burke, but went along when Akins told them...
High Court Denies Challenge of CO Pot Laws The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear NEBRASKA and OKLAHOMA’s challenge of COLORADO's marijuana legalization laws. The 6-2 vote means COLORADO’s first-of-their-kind cannabis laws will...
Crime in KY The KENTUCKY House unanimously endorses SB 63, which would require Bluegrass State law enforcement agencies to develop policies for handling DNA evidence from rape kits. The bill, which also sets timelines for submitting rape kits to the...
AL Considering Gas Tax Hike The ALABAMA House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill (HB 394) last month that would increase the state’s gas tax by about six cents per gallon to generate additional funding for...
Hey Yalies, are you sick of paying the big Connecticut tax bill on that mega-endowment of yours? Well, you have options! Taking a page straight from the Rick Perry playbook, Florida Gov. Rick Scott says you are more than welcome to move the 300-year-old...
A top aide to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) resigned last week amid allegations she and the governor were having an affair. But Bentley himself is so far resisting a growing number of calls that he resign. Bentley made an appearance in northern...
Education In KY The KENTUCKY House approves SB 228, which would require school boards to establish procedures to investigate bullying and protect bullying victims. It moves to Gov. Matt Blevin (R) for consideration (COURIER-JOURNAL [LEXINGTON]). ...
Cuomo Says No-Go to NC NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) issued an executive order last week (EO No. 155) that bars state employees from any state-sponsored non-essential travel to NORTH CAROLINA . The order came after the Tar Heel State adopted legislation...
Energy In WI WISCONSIN Gov. Scott Walker (R) signs AB 25, which bars Badger State agencies from enforcing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) rule prohibiting the commercial sale of less-than-optimum energy efficient wood stoves...
Health In NE The NEBRASKA Legislature rejects LB 1032, which would have expanded Medicaid in the Cornhusker State to cover and additional 97,000 low-income residents (KTICRADIO.COM [WEST POINT]). Health In FL FLORIDA Gov. Rick Scott (R) signs...
Immigration In AZ The ARIZONA Senate approves HB 2451, a bill that would require that undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes complete 85 percent of their sentences before they can be released to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement for...
Social Policy In GA GEORGIA Gov. Nathan Deal (R) vetoes HB 757, which would have allowed faith-based organizations to deny services to those who violate their “sincerely held religious belief” and preserve their right to fire employees...
Potpourri In NH The NEW HAMPSHIRE House approves HB 602, which would among several things regulate the operation of drones near critical infrastructure, prohibit them from carrying weapons and restrict operation near airports. The measure moves to...
Can you imagine the pressure today’s campaign managers and communication directors face on the road to the White House? In the pre-digital communication era, those jobs were downright easy compared to the 24/7 news cycles of today. Plus, good news...
A series of Zillow TV commercials offer up heartwarming stories, always ending with a tagline, “Whatever home means to you, we’ll help you find it.” The ads are moving and powerful, but these 30-second snapshots of people finding their...
Day 1 of the NCAA® Basketball Tourney last Thursday—otherwise known as the start of March Madness®—didn’t hold a lot of surprises. Sure, there were a couple of 12 th -seed upsets of their 5 th -seed opponents, but it was on Friday...