On a 63-33 vote last week, the Wisconsin Assembly approved a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the office of state treasurer in 2019. Virtually all of the treasurer’s duties have been slowly eliminated over the years, and even the state’s...
NC legislators call for session limits Three Democratic NORTH CAROLINA lawmakers, Rep. Charles Graham, Rep. Garland Pierce, and Sen. Jane Smith, are urging session limits, saying there’s no need for the state’s legislative sessions to run...
Faced with an ongoing epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and state Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine issued what is essentially a statewide prescription that allows pharmacies to dispense the anti-overdose drug naloxone...
Citing voters’ rejection of a similar proposal in 2012, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said he opposes HB 1991, so-called “death with dignity” legislation under consideration by lawmakers. That proposal would let terminally ill...
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a package of eight bills last month aimed at combatting gender discrimination in the Empire State. Five of those were specific to the workplace. They include AB 6075, which prohibits employers from threatening workers...
Hogan Expands Lead Testing MARYLAND Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the Old Line State will now test 1- and 2-year-olds statewide for lead poisoning. The testing previously was performed only on children living in “at risk” ZIP codes or...
Business In MA The MASSACHUSETTS Senate approves SB 2033, legislation that would expand the scope of workplace disfigurement injuries covered under workers' compensation policies to include injuries anywhere on a person's body. The measure...
The WISCONSIN Senate unanimously approves AB 8, which would make “upskirting” — the act of secretly taking a photo of someone’s genitals, buttocks or breasts — a stand-alone felony. It moves to Gov. Scott Walker (R) for consideration...
The MICHIGAN Senate gives final approval to SB 103, which requires school districts and charter schools to base at least 25 percent of a teacher’s evaluation on assessment and student growth data, half of what would have been required under current...
The NEW JERSEY Senate approves SCR 180, which would override a proposed new rule by the state Department of Environmental Protection that is viewed by critics as impairing the Garden State’s water quality and increasing flooding. The resolution...
The MICHIGAN House approves HB 4843, which would exempt minors from criminal prosecution if they call 911 to get help for a prescription drug-related overdose or health emergency. The state already exempts residents from criminal action for seeking help...
NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signs HB 318, a bill that bans Tar Heel State cities from adopting sanctuary policies for undocumented immigrants. The measure also bars local governments from accepting IDs from foreign governments and requires them...
MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signs a package of bills intended to help Wolverine State residents who use service animals. The package includes SB 298, which makes it a crime to refuse entry to a person using a service animal or to assault a service animal;...
The MICHIGAN Senate approves SB 239, which would bar local governments from imposing breed-specific dog bans. The measure is now in the House (MLIVE.COM). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN
The ancient tale of Damon and Pythias – two young Greeks whose friendship was so strong they were willing to die for each other – is likely apocryphal, but such devotion definitely exists. Case in point comes from the state of Washington,...
California Assemblymember Ian Calderon got married last month, which is a great thing. And like many young couples – Calderon is the second youngest member of the California Legislature – they want to start their lives by buying a home together...
It’s been almost 50 years since a California governor has lived in the Golden State Governor’s Mansion, but that is about to change. As the Sacramento Bee reports, Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife Anne Gust Brown are planning to move into the...
Ohio Governor and aspiring GOP presidential nominee John Kasich said last week it is no more Mr. Nice Guy for him. Kasich was referring to his presidential campaign and how he plans to go on the offensive against some of his fellow candidates. But Kasich...
In our October 2, 2015 Bird’s Eye View we incorrectly identified Nevada as a state where ridesharing services like Uber are illegal. That is of course no longer the case. We regret the error and have since corrected the information.
A year from now, Americans will be choosing a new Commander-in-Chief, but right now, the campaign trail is barely underway. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our new U.S. Presidential Campaign Tracker microsite , powered by...
Are you an unsung hero within your company? Marketing wins accolades for creative campaigns that drive leads. Sales receives a big pat on the back for converting leads into sales. Procurement, on the other hand, rarely receives praise for its constant...
Plenty of pundits—in Ohio and across the nation—were surprised when Issue 3 to legalize marijuana went down in a crushing 64 to 36 percent defeat, particularly because poll numbers had indicated a close margin of support for legalization....
The home-sharing website Airbnb has faced its share of resistance from regulators in recent years as its explosive growth has propelled it past even major hotel chains (see “Bicoastal battle over short-term rentals ” in the May 11 issue of...
Airbnb collects and remits transient occupancy taxes, also known as hotel taxes, on behalf of its hosts in a dozen U.S. cities and the District of Columbia, according to the company’s website. Occupancy and sales taxes are also collected and remitted...
With a sharp drop in oil prices and declining production having blown a $3-billion hole in his state’s budget, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) has proposed a plan to convert the state’s Permanent Fund into a “sovereign wealth fund”...