Speaking of Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker enjoyed his recent brief foray into presidential politics, when he went to New Hampshire to observe the primaries up close and personal. He was in fact so enthralled, reports State House News , he “may...
Health & Science - U.S. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announces new rules designed to mitigate opioid abuse. Those measures include having an expert panel review new opioids, strengthening post-release study requirements for those drugs...
Broadband isn’t the only signature program of his predecessor’s that Gov. Bevin is looking to dismantle. He has also made clear his intention to scale back the state’s Medicaid expansion, though he has revised his original call to completely...
IN Lt. Gov. Steps Down INDIANA Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann (R) announced last week she will not join Gov. Mike Pence (R) in his bid for re-election, and will instead resign her office this month in preparation for becoming president of the Hoosier State’s...
Social Policy in WV The WEST VIRGINIA Senate approves SB 6, which would allow for the drug testing of welfare recipients if “reasonable suspicion” exists they could be using illegal drugs. The bill moves to the House (WILLIAMSON DAILY NEWS...
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) proposed offering six weeks of paid leave for new parents in state employ, the first move in what is expected to be an effort by DFL lawmakers to pass legislation providing the same benefit to all Gopher State workers. Under...
The WEST VIRGINIA House approves HB 4145, which would allow adults to carry concealed handguns without obtaining a permit. It moves to the Senate (CHARLESTON GAZETTE). WISCONSIN Gov. Scott Walker (R) signs AB 142, a bill that eliminates the Badger State’s...
Markell Issues Slavery Apology DELAWARE Gov. Jack Markell (D) signed House Joint Resolution 10, which apologizes for the First State’s role in the slave trade in America and for other wrongs committed against African Americans during the Jim...
On November 3, 2015, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the hiring of Hui Chen as a full-time compliance expert for its Fraud Section. Chen previously served as the Global Head for Anti-Bribery and Corruption at Standard Chartered Bank, implementing...
What’s a hotter media topic, Super Bowl 50 or the presidential election? If you’re one of the estimated 189 million who are expected to watch, stream or follow Sunday’s big game—or if you’re a fan of the Panthers or Broncos—you...
The snowstorm that recently hit the East Coast was no doubt a big ‘un. But the freezing temps and mountains of snow certainly didn’t thwart hearty lawmakers in the U.S. Senate, who braved it all to show up for work to honor their pledge to...
Business in DE The DELAWARE Senate approves SB 39, a bill that would raise the First State minimum wage to $10.25 by 2020. It is now in the House (LEXISNEXIS STATE NET, DELAWAREONLINE.COM). Business in IN The INDIANA House approves HB 1247, which...
Just days after signing legislation to authorize $28 million in relief funds for Flint, embattled Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) said he would ask lawmakers for another $30 million to help residents there pay their water bills. The money would go toward...
For at least the fifth year in a row, Indiana Rep. David Wolkins (R) is backing a measure that an editorial in The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne referred to as “one of the worst legislative bills being considered once again this session.”...
A pair of legal cases could have a big impact on budget decisions in Texas next year, when lawmakers meet again in regular session. One of the cases, set to go before the Texas Supreme Court in March, revolves around the issue of whether metal pipes...
During the 2013-14 legislative year, 14 states enacted bills related to Mental Health First Aid - CPR-like training to help emergency personnel, teachers and others recognize and respond to mental health disorders - according to the National Council for...
Lobbyists give lawmakers gifts. It’s as regular as the sun rising in the east. For the most part that means meals, sports tickets, yada, yada, yada. But if Missouri Rep. Bart Korman gets his way, that list of reportable gifts will soon grow to include...
Visitors to the Washington statehouse in Olympia on Jan. 25 were greeted by something not usually seen on the idyllic, manicured Capitol grounds: over 1,100 red, yellow or white tombstones, one for each of the Evergreen State residents to die by their...
Crime & Punishment in NM The NEW MEXICO House approves HB 56, a bill that would add the crimes of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, first-degree child abuse and aggravated burglary to those which would qualify offenders for a mandatory life...
Bowing to pressure from business leaders, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) released a revised minimum wage plan Friday that scales back proposed increases but offers workers a raise as soon as this summer. Brown’s original proposal would have raised the...
This month North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) ordered most state agencies to cut their budgets by more than 4 percent, the highest dollar amount in state history, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Pam Sharp. The governor’s...
Speaking of the allure of the opposite sex...one Kansas lawmaker saw his own attempt to curtail such things blow up in his face last week. As Governing and the Kansas City Star report , Sen. Mitch Holmes has retracted rules he recently imposed on anyone...
Education in SD The SOUTH DAKOTA House approves HB 1008, a bill that would bar transgender students from using bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities of the gender with which they identify if those facilities don’t correspond with their...
Saying “the war on drugs has failed when it comes to marijuana prohibition,” Vermont Gov. Pete Shumlin (D) announced his support for SB 137, legislation currently before lawmakers that would “cautiously and deliberately” legalize...
The Washington, D.C. Council gave preliminary approval last week for an anti-crime bill that would, among other things, pay as many as 200 residents of the District who are at risk of committing or being a victim of violent crime up to $9,000 a year for...