A savvy crusader brings ‘instant credibility’ to Minnesota Health Department
An opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of hundreds of Minnesotans. A giant backlog of uninvestigated maltreatment complaints at senior care homes.
Category Archives: US Governors
‘Trump bump’ rescues California’s unemployment fund
President Donald Trump gestures as delivers his first State of the Union address in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol to a joint session of Congress Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan applaud. America's economic recovery has benefited California more than most states because the real estate crash hit the Golden State a lot harder.
Mike Pence’s home state can now require Medicaid recipients to work
Now, the Trump administration, in which they both serve, has allowed the state to implement even more changes in the safety net program -- most notably by requiring some Medicaid recipients to work. The state, which has served as a Medicaid expansion model for Republicans, announced Friday that it will require certain Medicaid recipients to get jobs or participate in other community activities starting in 2019.
Quips and a few punches at D.C. in governors’ talk
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon state Gov. Kate Brown at Crosscut Festival 2018 in Seattle. Credit: David Ryder for Crosscut Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown pulled no punches Friday night in how much disgust they feel about the Trump Administration's desire to allow off-shore oil drilling along the U.S. coastline - that is, to allow it everywhere except Florida .
Right-to-work holdouts face new efforts to change labor laws
Hemmed in by a growing number of states that block mandatory union fees in workplaces, holdout states in the Midwest are facing renewed attempts to enact so-called right-to-work laws. Missouri's new law will go to a statewide referendum in November, while a pair of Republican lawmakers in Ohio announced last month they want to put the issue before voters in two years.
Washington carbon tax measure clears Senate committee
The Senate energy, environment and technology committee amended and approved Senate Bill 6203 Thursday night. It now goes to a fiscal committee.
Comey Blasts ‘Weasels’ in Tweet Apparently Aimed at GOP Memo
Sean Hannity Has Been Advising Donald Trump on the Nunes Memo, Because of Course He Has President Donald Trump is at odds with his own chief law enforcement officers over a controversial memo fueling Republican allegations of a conspiracy against the Trump presidency. Rising White House fear: Nunes memo is a dud - Inside the Trump administration, sources who've been briefed on the Nunes memo expect it will be underwhelming and not the "slam dunk" document it's been hyped up to be.
GOP Sees Reasons for Optimism in 2018 Midterms
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. Republicans are bracing for strong headwinds in this year's midterm elections, but also see signs that the environment might not be as treacherous as once anticipated.
Kasich among few Republicans to blast memo’s release
Gov. John Kasich joined Democrats to assail House Republicans for releasing their memo charging the FBI and Justice Department abused court requests for secret surveillance on campaign aides to President Donald Trump who were believed in contact with Russian officials. Although most congressional Republicans supported the release of the memo, Kasich in a sharply worded statement said the manner in which the memo was released "was wrong and does a disservice to our country."
Gov. Calvo calls for a 50% increase in gross receipts tax
Governor Calvo will be calling for a 50-percent increase in the gross receipts tax to cover the projected 48-million dollar revenue shortfall from the Trump tax cuts. Lester Carlson of the Governor's fiscal team says he will present the proposed increase when the Special Economic Session convenes again next week.
GOP – Sfundraising lagging
Democratic candidates for Minnesota governor are crushing their Republican opponents in the fundraising race, a signal GOP donors may be waiting to see whether former Gov. Tim Pawlenty decides to seek his old job. According to fundraising reports released Thursday, top Democratic candidates ended 2017 with a hefty cash advantage compared to lackluster totals across the GOP field.
Federal judge knocks down Florida’s voting ban for ex-felons
In a ruling that could have reverberations on this year's crucial elections, a federal judge Thursday ruled that Florida's current ban on former felons voting is unconstitutional and needs to be changed as soon as possible. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a blistering ruling that says the state's current process to restore voting rights - which can take years - is flawed.
Pawlenty sets meeting with advisers on governor run
A top adviser says former Gov. Tim Pawlenty has scheduled a meeting with his inner circle as he nears a decision on whether to run for governor. Pawlenty's possibly entry has been the source of speculation for months, and would likely be the immediate favorite among Republicans if he gets in.
In New York, Trump infrastructure plan prompts questions
If President Donald Trump needs help in picking projects for his $1.5 trillion infrastructure program, he needs only to look to his home state of New York, where the list of mega projects needing billions of dollars has been piling up for years. It's unclear however just how much - if any - new money New York can expect for its two most pressing transportation needs.
Businesswoman Chele Farley to challenge Gillibrand
Republican Chele Farley, who most recently served as New York City finance chair of the state party, on Thursday launched a run against U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is up for re-election to a second full term this fall. Farley, a partner at the equity firm Mistral Capital, launched her effort with a video that borrowed an argument recently deployed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo : New York State pays roughly more in federal taxes than it gets back in federal aid - money, Farley said, that could be used to rebuild state infrastructure and boost education, among other things.
Pence touts tax cuts, slams Manchin in West Virginia
Vice President Mike Pence paid a visit Wednesday to a truck dealership in West Virginia, touting the tax cuts enacted by the Republican-controlled Congress while slamming the state's Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who voted against the plan. Manchin faces re-election this year.
Chicago Cubs Co-Owner Todd Ricketts Named New RNC Finance Chairman
Then-President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, after they met in Bedminster, N.J., during the transition in November 2016. The Republican National Committee has named Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts its new finance chairman days after its former fundraising chief, real estate and casino magnate Steve Wynn, stepped down amid allegations of sexual assault.
Gov. Colyer promises ‘new day’ for Kansas after taking oath
Republican Jeff Colyer promised a "new day" of openness Wednesday shortly after taking the oath as Kansas' governor, then made overtures to a skeptical GOP-controlled Legislature on the divisive issue of public school spending. Colyer, the state's longest-serving lieutenant governor, replaced former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback immediately after Brownback stepped down to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.
Sonny Perdue picked as designated survivor for the State of the Union
The Agriculture Secretary was announced as this year's designated survivor, meaning that he was tapped to skip the State of the Union address and be secured at an undisclosed location instead, according to the White House pool report. The designated survivor is typically a Cabinet-level official who is chosen to skip certain high-profile events - generally limited to State of the Union addresses and inaugurations - so that he or she may assume power if a disaster were to occur while the majority of the government is gathered at the event.
Montana appeals federal agency’s denial for more aid
Montana is appealing the federal government's denial to a request to help the state cover some of the $44 million in firefighting costs accumulated at the end of last summer. Montana Public Radio reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency last month denied Gov. Steve Bullock's request for additional disaster relief for the 2017 fire season.