On January 7, 1789, the first U.S. presidential election took place. Presidential election cycles have changed in the 227 years since that auspicious occasion, so rather than marking the end of campaign season, January is when the rubber hits the road...
The health and fitness industry loves January. As we ring in another new year, we are inspired to make resolutions—which often equate to new gym memberships, investments in wearable fitness trackers and self-improvement action plans. But it’s...
Throughout December the SNCJ staff shared with you, the readers, what we believe will be some of the major issues to dominate statehouses in 2016. But as we ring in the New Year it is worth noting that thousands of new laws – the result of previous...
Among the state laws taking effect this year are new gun restrictions in California tightening that state’s existing ban on firearms on school grounds and allowing individuals to request the temporary seizure of weapons from relatives who may pose...
It took Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and the state’s lawmakers until the end of December - six months into the current fiscal year - to approve a state budget. It was only a partial budget at that, with Wolf’s line-item vetoes leaving major...
Like most states, Hawaii has an enterprise zone program which grants businesses that set up operations in economically depressed areas sizeable tax breaks in return for creating jobs where they’re needed most. But a law passed by the state’s...
Last summer, Eddie Tipton, a former security officer for the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which administers several multi-state games including Powerball and Mega Millions, was convicted of rigging a jackpot in Iowa in 2010. Now Tipton is facing...
AK Senate Pres Calls for Consideration of Sales Tax: In response to the budget plan proposed last month by ALASKA Gov. Bill Walker (I), calling for new taxes, a reduction in Permanent Fund dividends, and $100 million in spending cuts to address the...
Oregon became the first state to conduct elections entirely by mail with a voter-approved initiative (Measure 60) in 1998. Washington made the switch via legislative action in 2011. And Colorado followed suit in 2014. The nation’s most populous...
The last measure passed by the Michigan Legislature in December began as an uncontroversial 13-page bill that sailed through the Republican-controlled Senate on a unanimous and bi-partisan 38-0 vote. The bill proceeded to be totally revamped in the GOP...
Expensive Ballot Battle Coming to CA The California secretary of state’s office announced last month that a measure imposing price controls on state drug purchases has qualified for the state’s November 2016 ballot. The California Drug...
Decrying a “sea of dilapidated buildings” that have become “a hotbed for crime,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced an almost $700 million plan last week to tear down thousands of abandoned buildings in Baltimore’s decaying...
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) proposed raising the minimum wage for all State University of New York workers to $15 per hour by 2018. Cuomo’s proposal would include students who participate in work-study programs to help pay their tuition and other...
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) issued an executive order last Wednesday launching a statewide public health initiative to reduce and prevent what he called the “scourge” of gun-related fatalities and injuries in the Evergreen State. Under...
House Democrats in Maine say they will move forward this week with efforts to censure or even impeach Gov. Paul LePage (R) over allegations he has abused his power. Complaints against the governor include the recent finding of the Legislature’s...
Snyder Kills Straight Ticket Voting Saying “it’s time to choose people over politics,” MICHIGAN Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed legislation last week (SB 13) that eliminates straight-ticket voting in the Wolverine State. In a signing...
MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Charlie Baker (R) signs HB 3922, which extends a Bay State law that requires 35 percent of employees eligible for a group home or auto insurance marketing discount, or credit, to participate in that plan within two years of the plan...
The MASSACHUSETTS House approves SB 2021, a bill that would repeal a Bay State law that automatically suspends the driver’s licenses of drug offenders whose crimes had nothing to do with operating a motor vehicle. The measure returns to the Senate...
Health in MA The MASSACHUSETTS House gives initial approval to HB 3895, a bill that would allow Bay State doctors to delegate the administration of immunizations to certified and trained medical assistants, under the direct supervision of the provider...
GEORGIA Gov. Nathan Deal (R) rescinds the executive order he issued last November 13 barring state agencies from doing anything to process the acceptance of refugees escaping the civil war in Syria. Deal rescinded the order after Attorney General Sam...
Social Policy in NY NEW YORK Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) issues Executive Order No. 151, which directs Empire State police and government and social-service agencies to identify those who appear to be homeless and, when temperatures are at freezing or below...
President Barack Obama issues a series of executive orders that implement a series of new provisions regarding gun sales in America. The actions include requirements that gun sellers who operate on the Internet and at gun shows be licensed and that they...
If you thought presidential candidate Carly Fiorina was a terrible CEO, well, you are right. But it turns out she is even worse at 1) football prognostication and 2) social media. The hubbub started on New Year’s Day when Fiorina took to Twitter...
By most measures, lawyer, real estate mogul and venture capitalist John Cox is a success. But when it comes to politics, the self-described “Reagan Republican” has had few signature moments. Since 2002 Cox has run for the U.S. House of Representatives...
We often hear about the rigors of the campaign trail and how taxing it is for candidates to have to be so energetic all the time. After all, we hear, people run for office, they don’t walk! (Hardy harhar) But former California Senate pro Tem Darrell...