A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers has proposed a general exemption for agricultural businesses from the multibillion-dollar business tax and education spending law signed by Gov. Kate Brown (D) last month. HB 3445 would exempt sales of “agricultural...
California is on pace to take in $1.9 billion in revenue from medical and recreational marijuana sales in 2018, according to a recent projection from the cannabis industry analytics firm New Frontier Data. While that sum is substantial, it’s only...
MA Senate Approves Budget Amendment The MASSACHUSETTS Senate approves a budget amendment that would bar police from asking about people’s immigration status unless required by law; end contracts that deputize state and local law enforcement as...
LA Governor Vetoes SB 462 LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) vetoes SB 462 , legislation that would have barred local governments from adopting so-called “inclusionary” zoning policies that require developers to include affordable housing...
Uber Technologies has not only pioneered a new kind of taxi service but also a new way to deal with the government regulations that stand in the way of its growth. The approach is bold: Enter local markets regardless of the regulatory environment, build...
All too often state budgets are passed in the final days of legislative sessions - or sometimes even later, in special sessions - with lawmakers rushing to meet deadlines. But South Dakota lawmakers may put an end to that practice in their 2016 session...
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that public-sector workers who aren’t union members don’t have to contribute to unions’ collective bargaining efforts. The 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME will likely further erode union membership...
With over 50,000 high-paying jobs, billions of dollars in direct investment and millions in associated economic activity at stake, cities across the country are vying to be the future home of Amazon’s second headquarters in North America. And with...
It’s now the thick of primary season, aka prime endorsement gathering time. Which is kind of like mating season in the animal world, just with even crazier behavior. Case in point this week comes from the California Lieutenant Governor’s race...
Immigration In The US The U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal officials may implement part of President Donald Trump’s travel ban on people from six nations with overwhelmingly Muslim populations until the court decides on the issue in its...
Since 2013, 31 states have raised their gas taxes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . Four states - Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio and Virginia - have done so this year. And Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin could be next...
ARIZONA Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asked the state Supreme Court to review an appeals court ruling that said three dozen Grand Canyon State lawmakers that oppose expanding Medicaid may challenge the expansion in court. Brewer says the three do not have legal...
A week after leaving then-West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin's (D) staff in early 2010, Larry Puccio became a lobbyist. Five months after that, he was elected chairman of West Virginia's Democratic Party. Conrad Lucas, chairman of that state's...
Montana GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte may or may not unseat incumbent Gov. Steve Bullock, but if he does it will be without the support of Susan Carstensen. As the Missoulian reports , Carstensen has publicly endorsed Bullock, saying of Gianforte...
The slow and steady improvement that has characterized state finances for most of the post-Great Recession era is continuing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures' Spring 2014 "State Budget Update," which is based on...
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) announced he is creating a seven-member advisory council on gambling to try to resolve ongoing disagreements with lawmakers over electronic bingo and other issues. The governor said the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming...
In the 2016 presidential election, over two-thirds of Florida voters cast their ballots early or by mail rather than at their local polling place on Election Day. That fact has election officials in the state thinking about switching from traditional...
The flirtation is over – Jerry Springer is taking a pass on running for the Ohio governor’s office next year. As Cleveland.com reports , Springer made the announcement on his weekly podcast , telling folks that at age 73 he wasn’t up...
GA Senate Rejects SB 418 The GEORGIA Senate rejects SB 418 , which would have barred local governments from enacting prohibitions on the sale of commercially-bred puppies (WXIA [ATLANTA]). Going On In HI The HONOLULU City Council unanimously...
New Initiative pledging to incorporate electric vehicles Led by LOS ANGELES Mayor Eric Garcetti, Representatives from 19 cities and counties sign a new initiative pledging to incorporate electric vehicles into their municipal fleets. Under the new...
Last week President Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders outlined their plan for a sweeping overhaul of the federal tax code. While many details of the plan still have to be worked out, it currently calls for a 4.6 percent reduction in the...
The earth moved in California last week, but it was only a political earthquake rather than a real geological trembler. More accurately, the earth moved twice: once when United States Sen. Barbara Boxer announced she would not seek another term in 2016...
Last week Nebraska Sens. Steve Erdman (R) and Joni Albrecht (R) proposed amendments to an $8.9 billion budget package under consideration in their chamber and then withdrew them before they could be voted on. Erdman’s amendment would have kept all...
The ongoing war between California and President Trump heated up significantly last week, as the administration moved to challenge two of the Golden State’s cornerstone environmental laws. The first came on Monday when Environmental Protection...
It’s never a good idea to feed wildlife, if for no other reason they lose their fear of humans even while humans don’t lose their fear of them. Such is the case these days in New Hampshire, where Mink the black bear has returned from exile...