The Arizona House isn’t the only legislative body with its collective head up...in the clouds. As Cleveland.com reports , a pair of lawmakers in the Ohio House have introduced legislation to adopt an official Buckeye State cookie. The measure has...
During President Obama’s time in office, over 800 Democratic state legislators have lost their seats to Republicans, which is reportedly one of the Democratic Party’s worst records under any president in over a century. But due in part to...
There can be any number of reasons to object to a new high-rise apartment building going up in your community. Berkeley, California residents, for instance, are not thrilled about a developer’s proposal to build a five-story building that would...
This month U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it easier for federal prosecutors to crack down on marijuana businesses in states that have legalized the drug. Marijuana was already illegal under federal law, but James Cole, U.S. attorney general...
Going On In LA The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a LOUISIANA law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital (REUTERS). CA Governor Signs AB 2989 CALIFORNIA Gov. Jerry Brown (D)...
Uber-patriotic national holidays are a golden opportunity for minor league baseball teams in deep red locales to fill the stadium. Such was the case in May when the Pacific Coast League’s Fresno Grizzlies marked the Memorial Day holiday with a video...
Filibustering and other such political gabfesting as a means of blocking legislation has been practiced by every party since Plato walked the earth. The latest incarnation comes from the Oregon Legislature, where outmanned Republicans have managed to...
BILL BLOCKING BIRTH DATES FROM VOTER LISTS ADVANCES IN RI A bill ( HB 5925 ) approved by RHODE ISLAND’s House Judiciary Committee would enshrine into law Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea’s (D) current policy of excluding full birth dates...
Key West City Approves Ordinance The KEY WEST City Commission unanimously approves an ordinance that would ban the sale of sunscreens containing ingredients that could be harmful to coral reefs. The ordinance must pass another vote on Feb 5 to become...
No question the advancement of California Assemblymember Toni Atkins to the position of Speaker was a noteworthy event. Atkins is only the third woman to ever hold that job in the Golden State, is the first Speaker who represents the fine city of San...
The U.S. Supreme Court has suspended two lower court rulings requiring new congressional district maps to be drawn in Michigan and Ohio, pending a decision by the justices on the constitutionality of partisan gerrymandering. Lower courts had ruled...
SOME CT TOWNS BLOCKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING Dozens of wealthy towns in CONNECTICUT have blocked the construction of low-income housing within their borders for the past two decades. The percentage of low-income housing has actually declined somewhat...
And right now, there might not be anybody being more awful than California Assembly members Brian Dahle and Kevin Kiley, who are facing off in a nasty race to fill a vacant seat in the state Senate. The two men – both Republicans - have gone after...
AL House and Senate Endorse SB 73 The ALABAMA House and Senate endorse SB 73 , a measure that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from employing contractual “gag clauses” to forbid pharmacists from telling customers if they can save...
IL LAWMAKERS PASS REVENUE GENERATING MEASURES In overtime after the scheduled adjournment of their regular session on May 31, ILLINOIS lawmakers passed legislation that among other things would allow a casino in Chicago, double the state’s motor...
With apologies to Bob Dylan and James Brown, the times they are a changin’ and it’s no longer just a man’s world. While a lot of us already know this to be true, the word is just getting to a lot of states, or at least to the language...
In spite of his personal opposition, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) said he would allow a measure legalizing sports betting to become law in the Volunteer State without his signature. “The governor has said he does not believe that the expansion...
COST OF SCALED BACK HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN CA GOING UP The cost to build a 119-mile segment of CALIFORNIA’s high-speed rail system in the state’s Central Valley could be $1.8 billion higher than the $10.6 billion previously projected, according...
IL Governor Signs HB 4843 ILLINOIS Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) signs HB 4843 , which makes it a crime to import, sell, buy or trade any ivory or rhino horn within the Prairie State. (ILLINOIS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)
After years of debate, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) signed legislation that could allow 70,000 low income Beehive State residents to become eligible for Medicaid. But when or even if that ever happens remains very much in doubt. The measure Herbert...
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency rejects requests from medical cannabis supporters to end marijuana’s classification as a Schedule I controlled substance on par with drugs like heroin and cocaine. The agency cited the Food and Drug Administration’s...
NH Gov Signs HB 1116 NEW HAMPSHIRE Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) signs HB 1116 , legislation that doubles the cap on so-called net metering, which allows solar power generators to sell excess power back to the electric grid (PORTLAND PRESS HERALD).
The CALIFORNIA Assembly approves SB 10 , which would allow unauthorized immigrants to buy health insurance through the state’s health benefits exchange. Purchasers would not be eligible for federal subsidies to help them pay for their coverage....
NJ Governor Signs SB 2534 NEW JERSEY Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signs SB 2534 , legislation that bans smoking on Garden State beaches. The prohibition goes into effect early next year and covers all local and state-owned beaches, with violators subject to...
MI Supreme Court Rules The MICHIGAN Supreme Court rules that Wolverine State schools may legally ban guns from their campuses. The decision upholds a 2016 ruling by the Michigan Court of Appeals, which came to the same conclusion (DETROIT FREE PRESS...