Special Session on Budget in WV WEST VIRGINIA Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) has called a special session for May 16 to resolve how to close a $270 million projected shortfall in the state’s 2016-17 budget. The session will begin only 45 days before...
Kentucky Approves SB 159 The KENTUCKY House approves SB 159 , which would require Bluegrass State high school students to pass a version of the civics test that the U.S. government gives to immigrants when they apply to become citizens. It returns...
Crime In Florida Corrections officials in FLORIDA agree to settle a lawsuit that accused the Sunshine State of discriminating against deaf and disabled prisoners. Tenets in the resolution include the state agreeing to provide sign-language interpreters...
According to Kansas’ Department of Revenue, in 2013 the state granted $622 million in income and privilege tax credits, allowing taxpayers to deduct various qualifying expenses from their taxes. But the state actually spent more than that amount...
Edwards Pitches LA Budget Fix LOUISIANA Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) proposed a wide range of fixes aimed at closing the Pelican State’s $304 million budget deficit, including tapping into the state’s rainy day fund. Other proposals include...
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) joined with Attorney General Maura Healey (D) and law enforcement officers last week to announce legislation that would update the Bay State’s wiretapping law for the first time since its inception in 1968. Under...
Jon Ossoff, a Democrat and first-time political candidate, narrowly missed winning a crowded special election last month to fill the U.S. House seat in Georgia’s heavily conservative Sixth District vacated by President Donald Trump’s appointment...
Which is advice Michigan lawmaker Todd Courser might do well to heed. As the Detroit Free Press reports, Courser recently announced he is on a mission to root out “political shenanigans” by the establishment statehouse “mafia”...
The U.S. House of Representatives approves HR 1321, a bill that would ban the use of microbeads, small bits of plastic found in a variety of personal products like soap and toothpaste. At least eight states, including ILLINOIS, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT,...
The Kansas Supreme Court heard oral arguments this month in a case concerning the authority of the high court itself. In 2014 the Kansas Legislature passed a bill taking the power to appoint chief district judges away from the state’s highest...
States have gotten worse at forecasting revenues over the past three decades, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York. Between 1987 and 1999 the median error...
By now you probably know that the tax cuts championed by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback have been a fiscal disaster for the Sunflower State, creating an $800 million budget deficit and blowing up the state credit rating. Things are so bad that at least eight...
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) unveiled a seven-part plan last week to implement strict new statewide water quality standards. Inspired by a significant issue with lead contamination in the water supply for the city of Flint, the new Wolverine State standards...
Crime In Wisconsin A federal judge in WISCONSIN rules that the Badger State’s so-called “cocaine mom” law, which allows adult pregnant women suspected of current or past drug or alcohol use that could affect their fetus be held in...
After hitting the political trifecta this month with the election of Democrat Phil Murphy to the governor’s office, the first order of legislative business for New Jersey Democrats next year will likely be raising taxes on high-earners, a proposal...
Social Policy In Missouri A federal judge issues a ruling that blocks two MISSOURI laws that require clinics which perform abortions to meet standards for surgical centers and for their doctors to have hospital privileges. U.S. District Judge Howard...
Nevada Approves SB 538 The NEVADA Senate approves SB 538 , which would require Internet providers to disclose what types of personal information they collect from users. The bill, which would also require providers to publish information on any third...
After President Donald Trump’s effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, fell flat in Congress last month Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said Republican lawmakers were out of excuses for not joining 31 other...
The Virginia Senate endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment last week ( SJR 295 ) that would allow lawmakers to veto regulations proposed by agencies under executive branch control with a simple majority vote. Supporters called the proposal necessary...
Amidst a chorus of boos from protestors, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) unveiled his $54.9 billion FY 2017 budget proposal to lawmakers, a plan that includes $195 million to address the ongoing water contamination crisis in Flint. That funding would be...
Wolfe Boosts State Wages PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom Wolfe (D) issued an executive order ( EO 2016-02 ) raising the minimum wage to $10.15 per hour for state government employees and private sector employees working on state contracts. Wolfe said raising...
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...
OH Approves HB 523 The OHIO House approves HB 523 , a bill that would legalize medicinal marijuana use in the Buckeye State. The measure moves to the Senate (CINCINATTI INQUIRER). MD Gov Signs HB 1005 & SB 97 MARYLAND Gov. Larry Hogan (R...
Business In CT The CONNECTICUT Supreme Court rules that state regulators can limit what tow truck operators charge motorists when police summon them to clear highway accidents. The ruling came in two cases where tow operators claimed the state could...
After the state and local tax (SALT) deduction was capped at $10,000 as part of the federal tax overhaul last December, high-tax states immediately began looking for ways for their residents to avoid a big bump in their federal tax burdens. Connecticut...