There is apparently nowhere anyone can go to escape those darned Kardashians. But the California State Assembly is trying to at least limit their negative impact on humanity. As the Los Angeles Times reports, lawmakers last week approved a bill that would...
TEXAS Gov. Greg Abbot (R) signs SB 709, a bill that overhauls a state law governing contested-case hearings, a process that allows the public to challenge industrial applications for permits at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), such...
With most jobs, if you don’t show up for work one time you might as well not show up ever again. Not so for lawmakers, who often ditch their duties with no repercussion at all. That could soon change in Maine, where the House and Senate have endorsed...
TX Approves HB 21 The TEXAS House gives final approval to HB 21, so-called “right-to-try” legislation that would allow terminally ill patients who have exhausted all other treatment options to access experimental medications not yet approved...
Personal Data Breach in FL For the second time in 10 months, the administration of FLORIDA Gov. Rick Scott (R) acknowledged it inadvertently released personal data of private citizens, potentially exposing them to identity theft. State officials said...
CA Approves AB 2175 The CALIFORNIA Assembly approves AB 2175, a bill that requires so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” to provide women with information about reproductive services available elsewhere, including abortion, and to disclose...
KANSAS Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signs HB 2155, a bill that clarifies the legality of fantasy sports leagues in the Sunflower State. The measure codifies that fantasy leagues are games of skill and knowledge and not chance (LEGAL SPORTS REPORT). -- Compiled...
In the age of social media successful business leaders understand the importance of media monitoring – not only for reputation management but also for sales and development strategy, competitive intelligence and customer retention. "It takes...
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...
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner hates how much money government workers are paid. Hate, hates, hates it! Well, except for when said worker works for him. In that case, all bets are off. As the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, Rauner’s largesse there...
CA Assembly Approves AB 202 The CALIFORNIA Assembly approves AB 202, legislation that would make cheerleaders for professional sports teams employees of those franchises. It moves to the Senate (SACRAMENTO BEE). Also in CALIFORNIA , the Assembly approves...
to sooth the savage ***, or so said 17 th Century English playwright William Congreve. But can it also cool the hyper-partisan fires that burn in most statehouses? That’s an open question but the folks in the Vermont Capitol are at least trying...
Washington gridlock has evidently taken a toll on lobbying at the federal level. After peaking at $3.52 billion in 2010, federal lobbyist spending dropped to $3.24 billion in 2014, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Lobbyist spending...
Twice in two weeks courts have rejected state pension reform laws. On April 30, Oregon’s Supreme Court ruled that the reductions the state made to cost-of-living adjustments in 2013 were unconstitutional. And last week Illinois’ Supreme Court...
As of May 12 drought was impacting every state in the nation but six, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly measure of drought conditions produced by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s National Drought Mitigation Center and the U.S....
After years of magical thinking about rains that rarely came, California agencies are struggling to combat the state’s prolonged drought through myriad mandates, restrictions and development of alternative sources of water. They have a long way...
TX Senate Approves SB 1697 The TEXAS Senate approves SB 1697, a bill that allows the state to keep the names of execution drug providers from the public. It moves to the House (TEXAS TRIBUNE). WA Signs HB 1068 WASHINGTON Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signs...
At least four governors have signed bills in recent weeks to help prevent suicide among school-age kids. The first came on May 5 when Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed HB 198, a measure that requires school personnel to undergo yearly training in suicide...
Last week, laws took effect in Utah that among other things institute gay-rights protections and mandate treatment instead of prison for drug offenders. And tax hikes for transportation and education will take effect in July. But those laws were passed...
Last week states received official word from the Obama administration that without Congressional action, federal transportation funding will expire on May 31. “Unless Congress acts prior to this date, the Federal Highway Administration will...
NH Vetoes SB 101 NEW HAMPSHIRE Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) vetoes SB 101, which would have barred state education officials from implementing the Common Core curriculum standards in any Granite State public school (UNION LEADER [MANCHESTER]). TN Signs...
A lot of sports fans hate former Duke hoopster Christian Laettner. His detractors cite his perceived arrogance, etc., but folks in Kentucky have their own special reason to loathe Laettner – the amazing shot he hit to eliminate the Kentucky Wildcats...
Vulnerable incumbents in the U.S. House are bolstering their campaign accounts in anticipation of an impending Supreme Court decision that could force state legislatures to redraw congressional districts in 13 states or more, possibly before elections...
The Alaska Legislature returned from its special session recess last Tuesday, but with only six representatives and three senators in attendance, no progress was made on the state’s budget or other issues the session was called for last month, and...
GEORGIA Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signs HB 57, which will allow home and business owners to use third party companies to finance and install solar panels on their property (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION).