The partisan battle over the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court has drawn a lot of attention. But there are similar clashes taking place in states all across the country. Millions of dollars are being spent on state supreme court races this year...
Sometime this month California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) will weigh in on a measure ( AB 797 ) that would allow someone who encounters a dog or cat left in a hot car to bust the critter out without facing criminal or civil charges. If Brown signs it, he will...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is one loyal dude. For the last 18 months, he has shown unwavering support for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who has been dueling with the NFL over a ball tampering scandal from the 2015 AFC championship...
Saying more intense storms and other impacts of climate change are forcing governments to act, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued a directive last week that calls for the Tar Heel State to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent from 2005 levels...
It’s traditional come World Series time for mayors of the cities of the teams involved to make a showy bet on the outcome. But don’t tell that to Boston Mayor Mary Walsh. As the Los Angeles Times reports , Walsh just said no to making a bet...
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) proposed a $122.6 billion General Fund budget for 2016-17 that balances fiscal restraint with increased investment in government services cut during the recession. Among other things, the plan includes a new $1.1 billion...
Revolving-door Bill on Move in MO A MISSOURI House panel unanimously approved a measure that would bar lawmakers, state officials and gubernatorial appointees from working as a lobbyist for one year after leaving office. The ban would not apply to...
Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R) has called on lawmakers to form a work group to study any possible connection between faith healing and child deaths in the Gem State. In a letter to House Speaker Scott Bedke (R) and Senate President Pro...
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...
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...
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) said he wants to scale back a plan build a statewide high-speed broadband network to instead focus just on Eastern Kentucky. Bevin said the plan, which began under former Gov. Steve Beshear (D), was originally intended to...
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...
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...
A pair of Democratic MISSISSIPPI lawmakers — Reps. Tom Miles and Michael Evans — have proposed a bill to make the Bible the official state book. "Me and my constituents, we were talking about it and one of them made a comment that people...
In an interview with the Casper Star-Tribune last week, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (R) said he regretted his state’s decision to not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act before current efforts at health care reform got under way. “The...
The devil is always in the details, even with flags. As Columbia’s The State newspaper reports , South Carolina law is very specific about some details in the making of the state flag, while others are not so clear. Specifically, the law specifies...
VT Senate Approves HB 196 The VERMONT Senate approves HB 196 , which would grant workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave a year. The bill, which would ensure employees are paid 70 percent of their wages for a maximum of 12 weeks of combined parental leave...
The Democratic governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York said last week they intend to file a joint lawsuit challenging the Republican tax overhaul plan signed into law last month. The governors allege that elements of the plan, particularly its...
TX POTENTIALLY FACING BIG MEDICAID BILL: Despite a healthy economy, TEXAS could face a $2.5 billion Medicaid shortfall in 2019. State lawmakers underfunded the program during last year’s regular session and then in a special session over the...
HI ECONOMY HEATING UP: HAWAII’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism revised its projection for visitor spending this year up to 8.6 percent, nearly double its previous estimate of 4.5 percent. The big increase is due to record...
New Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's (R) first few days in office were anything but dull. Rauner, who replaced Democrat Pat Quinn on Monday, issued new rules for both public employees and lobbyists, met with lawmakers and vowed to undo a long list of...
On Nov. 4, a rag-tag group of local activists persuaded nearly 59 percent of the voters in Denton, Texas to approve a ban on fracking by "knocking on doors, staging puppet shows and performing song-and-dance numbers," as The Texas Tribune put...
The MARYLAND Senate approves legislation that would bar Gov. Larry Hogan (R) from abolishing a commission on climate change created by former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) in 2007. It moves to the House (BALTIMORE SUN).
Speaking of challenges, new Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has one for you -- self-esteem. Yes, when given his chance to answer Bartiromo’s question, Wolf opined that what Keystone Staters could really use most is a little personal pep talk to make...
VA Senate Approves Measure The VIRGINIA Senate approves a measure that would make the Old Dominion the 33 rd state to expand Medicaid eligibility under the tenets of the Affordable Care Act. The proposal must return to the House before it can go to...