The cost of policing the Dakota Access pipeline protests in North Dakota has surpassed $22 million – an amount that would fund the state Treasury Department for two decades and $5 million more than the state set aside last year. Protest-related funding decisions will be made by state lawmakers during the 2017 session.
Category: US Governors
Blagojevich Supporters Plan Vigil
Under mounting pressure to free convicts as one last act, President Barack Obama is planning at least one more batch of pardons and commutations before leaving office in two weeks. The list of bold names appealing to Obama for compassion in his final weeks includes accused leaker Chelsea Manning, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Army Sgt.
Some lawmakers push for impeachment proceedings to restart
The committee suspended investigating articles of impeachment targeting Gov. Robert Bentley after a request from Attorney General Luther Strange because Strange was doing “related work.” However, in more than two months there hasn’t been a public update on what the related work may be.
Pence ends chapter as Indiana governor; heads to Washington
It was the last official act former Gov. Mike Pence had to fulfill. He attended the swearing-in ceremony for Gov. Eric Holcomb.
D.C. officials vow to fight for uninsured if Obamacare repeal passes
D.C. officials have vowed not to leave the city’s most vulnerable residents without health insurance if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act, despite the possibility of a $623 million shortfall for health care in the District. As the chairman of the D.C. Council’s newly formed Health Committee, Vincent Gray is uniquely positioned to take the lead in dealing with the aftermath of a dismantled ACA in the District.
Thousands call for release of man who shot dead his daughter’s rapist
Campaigners are appealing for clemency for an Alabama father who shot and killed the man who sexually abused his daughter when she was just a child. Campaigners are appealing for clemency for an Alabama father who shot and killed the man who sexually abused his daughter when she was just a child.
Huffpost Hill – Wake Up, Streeple
Mike Pence and his family, including their rabbit Marlon Bundo, . And while we’re on the subject, a much, MUCH better name for Pence’s rabbit would’ve been Chief Justice John Rabberts.
Grace Notes: Bobby Jindal’s attempt to get back into health care debate typically tone deaf
One of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ most significant first-year accomplishments was the expansion of Medicaid, which has provided health insurance to upwards of 370,000 working poor Louisianans to date. But it’s worth remembering that the three major Republicans who ran against him all suggested they’d accept the largely federally-funded expansion as well.
Shaheen, Hassan visiting Planned Parenthood in Exeter
U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan are visiting the Planned Parenthood clinic in town Monday morning to discuss their efforts in Congress to stop Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, according to Shaheen’s office. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said a provision cutting Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding will be included in the budget reconciliation legislation repealing Obamacare.
Former Navy SEAL Greitens to be Missouri’s next governor
Eric Greitens has been many things in his 42 years, including a Navy SEAL officer, Rhodes scholar, White House fellow, charity founder, best-selling author and inspirational speaker. On Monday, he’ll begin his new life as a public servant when he is sworn in as Missouri’s 56th governor during a ceremony in front of the Capitol building.
Greenwood mayor attending presidential inauguration
When Donald Trump stands at the podium to take the oath of office and give his inaugural address, one local official will be watching from the audience. Myers would like to see Trump’s speech give a clear indication of the direction that the first-term president wants the country to go.
Can Michelle get the band back together?
Most of us remember a great movie and one of the best lines from the 1980s. I’m talking about The Blues Brothers and ” We’re getting the band back together .”
A look at Indiana Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb
CAREER: State chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, 2013-15; Indiana Republican Party chairman, 2011-13; various positions with Gov. Mitch Daniels, including deputy chief of staff and 2008 campaign manager, 2003-11; aide to U.S. Rep. John Hostettler. CAMPAIGNS: Won 2016 race for governor; announced in March 2015 bid for 2016 U.S. Senate nomination, but dropped out when appointed lieutenant governor; lost 2000 campaign for state representative seat from Vincennes area.
Holcomb finishes ascension from unknown to Indiana governor
In this Nov. 14, 2016 file photo Vice President-elect Mike Pence, right, shakes hands with Indiana Governor-elect Eric Holcomb, as they participate in a cabinet meeting in the governor’s Statehouse office in Indianapolis. Holcomb’s inauguration as Indiana governor on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, will complete a whirlwind ascension in the past year from a virtually unknown candidate to the state’s top office.
Return of the poor man’s Harvard
Karl Grossman is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury who has specialized in investigative reporting for 45 years. He is the host of the TV program “Enviro Close-Up,” the writer and presenter of numerous TV documentaries and the author of six books.
Political Road Map: The only thing ‘special’ about California special …
Democracy won’t come cheap in Los Angeles in 2017. Voters from Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock will likely vote twice – after two earlier elections last year – to fill a single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, with the final ballots costing county taxpayers more than $1.3 million to cast and count.
Georgia lawmakers return to Capitol with focus on schools
Georgia’s General Assembly gavels in a new legislative session on Monday. The opening days of a legislative session typically include more ceremony than legislative action, but the agenda Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to lay out in his State of the State address this week will shape the 40-day legislative session.
Winter storm coats South with snow and ice
A widespread winter storm brought snow, freezing rain and black ice to the Southeastern United States on Saturday, leaving road closures, power outages and dangerous driving conditions in its wake. Nineteen of the lower 48 states were under winter storm advisories, watches or warnings that impacted more than 60 million people, according to the National Weather Service.
This Week From Albany: Cuomo’s road show
This week in state government news, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo breaks with tradition and takes his state of the state address on the road and lawmakers return to Albany for the second week of the 2017 session. Instead of a single address to lawmakers, Cuomo will deliver six speeches in different locations throughout the state this week, beginning Monday in New York City and Buffalo.
San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer discussing 2018 California governor’s race
LOS ANGELES San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer pledged to finish his four-year term as he campaigned for re-election last year, a decision that would deny Republicans a potentially attractive candidate for governor in 2018. Former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan said Friday that he discussed the race with the mayor last year and that his fellow Republican “wants to run.”
Concerns over dumping Obamacare growing among GOP lawmakers
From left, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. meet with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, following a closed-door meeting with the GOP caucus to disucss repeal of President Obama’s health care law now that the GOP is in charge of White House and Congress.
State lawmakers ready to go back to work
It’s often said that there are no new ideas in the Colorado Legislature, but occasionally there are some old ideas that come from new sources. Such is to be the case with Rep. Dan Thurlow, R-Grand Junction, and Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, when the Colorado Legislature convenes for the 2017 session on Wednesday.
Pencea s chief of staff seeks return to Indiana utility board
The chief of staff for outgoing Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is seeking to remain in state government by returning to the commission that oversees utility companies. Jim Atterholt told the Indianapolis Business Journal he has applied for an opening on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
COMMENTARY: Hypocrisy behind Julian Assange’s hero turn
Donald Trump’s, Sarah Palin’s and Sean Hannity’s embrace of Julian Assange – who has made a career of illegally obtaining and releasing documents damaging to American interests – is not just a puzzling policy shift. It is the triumph of ideology over, well, every other principle or commitment.
News 10 Mins Ago The Latest: Trump taunts Schwarzenegger for low ratings
President-elect Donald Trump is taunting Arnold Schwarzenegger for bringing in low ratings in a spinoff of Trump’s old reality television show, “Celebrity Apprentice.” In an early Friday tweet, Trump refers to himself as a “ratings machine” and says Schwarzenegger “got ‘swamped'” by comparison.
Corzine Agrees to Futures Industry Ban in CFTC Settlement
Jon Corzine has agreed to a lifetime ban from the futures industry to settle a U.S. lawsuit that he failed to properly oversee MF Global Holdings Ltd. as the brokerage spiraled toward failure in 2011. Corzine, an ex-governor and U.S. senator from New Jersey and the former co-chairman of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., also agreed to pay a $5 million penalty from his own pocket to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, under a consent order approved by a federal judge in New York Thursday.
MF Global ex-CEO fined $5M, banned from work as trader
WASHINGTON — Jon Corzine, the former New Jersey governor who led the collapsed brokerage MF Global, has been ordered to pay a $5 million penalty for his role in the firm's alleged illegal use of almost $1 billion in customer funds.
Education money: Battle for billions begins in Legislature
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks during the annual AP Legislative Preview, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, left, speaks as Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, listens at right during the annual AP Legislative Preview, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash.
Regulators Say Jon Corzine Will Pay $5 Million Penalty Over MF Global Collapse
Former MF Global Chief Executive Jon Corzine will pay a $5 million penalty for his role in the company’s collapse, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Under the terms of the settlement , Corzine, who has also served as the governor of New Jersey, is barred from commodity trading and cannot use insurance money to pay the penalty.
Obama is planning one last batch of pardons before he departs – but …
Under mounting pressure to free convicts as a last act, President Barack Obama is planning at least one more batch of pardons and commutations before leaving office in two weeks, but don’t expect many famous offenders to make the list. The list of bold names appealing to Obama for compassion in his final weeks includes accused leaker Chelsea Manning, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Army Sgt.
Ted Cruz: I dona t see a GOP primary …
Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that as it stands now, he doesn’t see anyone who is likely to mount a GOP primary challenge against him in his 2018 bid for re-election but that he’s taking nothing for granted. “At this point, I don’t see anyone that is likely to run, but I am going to assume that the threat is serious and prepare accordingly,” Mr. Cruz told radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Pressure on Obama to grant last-minute pardons, commutations
Under mounting pressure to free convicts as a last act, President Barack Obama is planning at least one more batch of pardons and commutations before leaving office in two weeks. The list of bold names appealing to Obama for compassion in his final weeks includes accused leaker Chelsea Manning, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Army Sgt.
Leery States Examine Cybersecurity
Several states around the country on Saturday are asking cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware that U.S. officials say is linked to Russian hackers. The Burlington Electric Department, one of Vermont’s two largest electric utilities, confirmed Friday it had found on one of its laptops the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe — the name the U.S. government has given to malicious cyber activity by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.
Leery States Examine Cybersecurity
Several states around the country on Saturday are asking cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware that U.S. officials say is linked to Russian hackers. The Burlington Electric Department, one of Vermont’s two largest electric utilities, confirmed Friday it had found on one of its laptops the malware code used in Grizzly Steppe — the name the U.S. government has given to malicious cyber activity by Russian civilian and military intelligence services.
Perriello making surprise run for Virginia governor
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello is set to make a surprise entrance into the Virginia governor’s race, according to two Democratic operatives with direct knowledge of Perriello’s plan. Perriello is set to announce his plan to seek the Democratic nomination Thursday, according to the operatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Perriello’s plans publicly.
Repeal ‘Obamacare’, but don’t hurt consumers, says Mike Pence
The Senate voted 51-48 to begin debating a budget that will prevent Democrats from using a filibuster to block future Republican legislation to scuttle the landmark health care law Donald Trump’s “first order of business” as president will be to repeal and replace “Obamacare,” but Republicans must avoid hurting consumers as they do it, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said at the Capitol on Thursday. President Barack Obama visited Congress, too, 16 days before leaving the White House, championing his landmark overhaul before Democratic lawmakers and urging them to remind voters of how the statute has helped them.
Fact Check: Once Again, Lawmakers Are Stretching The Facts On Obamacare
President Obama and Vice President-elect Mike Pence were both on Capitol Hill Wednesday, making competing cases for and against Obama’s signature health care law. Republicans have promised to make repeal of the Affordable Care Act their first order of business, once they control both Congress and the White House.
White House: Repealing Obamacare ‘would have devastating consequences’
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says repealing the Affordable Care Act ”would have devastating consequences for people all across the country.’ ‘ Rough Cut .
Chuck Morse is in charge as N.H. governor, but only for 2 days
Republican Senate President Chuck Morse is in charge between former governor Maggie Hassan’s swearing in as a U.S. Senator and Gov.-elect Chris Sununu’s inauguration. He’s approaching the short stint with a bit of sharp humor.
Obamacare, Dakota Access Pipeline, Macy’s: Your Wednesday evening roundup
Vice President-elect Mike Pence told Republican lawmakers Wednesday that the Trump administration will press for a fast path forward on gutting the Affordable Care Act , through a combination of legislative moves and early executive actions. Pence gave GOP lawmakers the rough outline of a battle-plan for dismantling Obamacare and laying the blame for current problems in the healthcare system at the Democrats’ feet.