In this Feb. 24, 2015, file photo, Wisconsin state Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, is seen during a hearing at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Nass said Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, that a University of Wisconsin-Madison program that explores masculinity amounts to a declaration of war on men and the university should be punished in upcoming budget deliberations.
Category: US Governors
Governor’s report: Salmon remain in trouble in Washington
A new state report finds that salmon throughout Washington remain in trouble with many species not recovering and fishing harvests declining in recent decades. The governor’s State of Salmon in Watersheds report Wednesday notes that seven of 15 salmon and steelhead species listed as federally threatened or endangered are getting worse or not improving.
Republicans vow to get rid of Obamacare but givea
Republicans vow to get rid of Obamacare but give no details Vice President-elect Mike Pence meets with GOP on dumping health care law, while Obama looks to defend. Check out this story on portclintonnewsherald.com: http://usat.ly/2hRPBqg Vice President-elect Mike Pence meets with Republican members of Congress Wednesday to discuss ways of dismantling the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.
Obama, Pence To Visit Capitol Hill for Healthcare Talks
President Barack Obama is traveling to the Capitol to give congressional Democrats advice on how to combat the Republican drive to dismantle his health care overhaul. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is meeting with GOP lawmakers to discuss the best way to send Obama’s cherished law to its graveyard and replace it with – well, something.
Trump questions US intelligence as governing challenges loom
Vice President-elect Mike Pence speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Vice President-elect Mike Pence speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.
Commentary: So long to dump things politicians said
And while it’s unnerving having an unpredictable motormouth running the show, as we plunge into 2017, we should at least rejoice in having a chance to mothball a lot of ridiculous statements made over the past 12 months by politicians who should have known better. Let’s never hear again the phrase “basket of deplorables,” which Hillary Clinton unfortunately used to describe Donald Trump supporters.
Rick Perry’s Texas giveaways: There’s something fishy about…
Donald Trump’s selection of Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy has prompted many Democrats to question Perry’s qualifications for the position. While he governed a state rich in fossil fuels and wind energy, Perry has far less experience than President Obama’s two energy secretaries, both physicists, in the department’s primary work, such as tending the nuclear-weapons stockpile, handling nuclear waste and carrying out advanced scientific research.
School closing in Tennessee reveals risks, challenges of state takeover
A selling point for Gov. Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District was a similar state-run program in Tennessee. OSD proponents in Georgia sold Tennessee’s Achievement School District as a success story, despite reports the ASD was struggling.
South Carolina Gets Additional $65M in Matthew Aid
The State newspaper of Columbia reports the Department of Housing and Urban Development grant is part of a $2.3 billion nationwide package for states hit hard this year by natural disasters. But the money is still a long way from arriving.
Friends in high places: Asa edition
WELL CONNECTED: Political consultant Jon Gilmore, leading a fund-raiser for former boss Asa Hutchinson, uses this photo on his private business page to tout his connectyions to the state’s top politician. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson , getting out ahead of the legislative session – when campaign fund-raising has an even more fraught appearance than normal – is throwing a fund-raiser for his 2018 gubernatorial campaign Thursday at the Capital Hotel.
Unions Facing the Trump Era
Beginning in 1979 in Seattle, WA, Jim Levitt expertly fabricated custom aircraft parts and tools, helping make the Boeing Company one of the most successful businesses in the world. But in 2013, corporate executives issued a threat: They demanded that Levitt and his fellow machinists surrender their pensions, and that Washington State political leaders hand over a record $8.7 billion in tax benefits.
Big fiscal questions to shape Kansas lawmakers’ work in new session
Big questions about taxes and spending will shape the Kansas Legislature’s work after its annual session opens on Jan. 9. But the biggest question might be how much GOP moderates work with conservatives and how often they seek deals with Democrats on tax and budget legislation to protect funding for education and other programs.
Three steps for progressive resistance and rebuilding as Trump era launches
As the new year begins, any honest progressive knows the political outlook is bleak. But if we’re going to limit the damage that President-elect Donald Trump inflicts on the country, then despair is not an option.
What do we want?
President-elect Donald Trump put on Twitter last week that new economic indicators are uncommonly good. Then he wrote, “Thanks, Donald.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger reveals his New Celebrity Apprentice catchphrase
The post-Donald Trump era of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice has arrived, and with it the debut of new host Arnold Schwarzenegger’s catchphrase for firing contestants in the climactic boardroom showdown segment. NBC’s The Apprentice franchise has taken on heightened significance in pop culture because it proved to be the vehicle that president-elect Trump used to establish himself as a household name, paving the way for his convention-busting political career.
US states re-examine cybersecurity
Several states around the country on Saturday asked cybersecurity experts to re-examine state and utility networks after a Vermont utility’s laptop was found to contain malware 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.
Former budget director Perusse returning to post for Cooper
New North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday named four state government veterans to take key positions in his administration, including the former state budget director under the two most recent Democratic governors. Charlie Perusse – Cooper’s choice as budget director – served about two years as Gov. Beverly Perdue’s budget director until early 2011.
State of the Statehouse: Pence’s turnaround led Indiana political stories in 2016
Gov. Mike Pence started the year of 2016 as politically vulnerable, with sinking approval ratings and a looming rematch against a well-funded opponent who almost beat him four years ago. He is ending the year as vice president-elect, having helped Donald Trump surprisingly claim the presidency and power through a 20-point victory in Indiana, a margin far higher than any polls predicted.
North Dakota budget is top issue for legislative session
Lawmakers convene Tuesday for North Dakota’s 65th legislative session, faced with tough spending choices amid a sharp downturn in tax revenues. Gov. Doug Burgum begins the session with his State of the State address early Tuesday afternoon.
Flint, Standing Rock Prove The Impact Of Environmental Issues On Communities Of Color
In 2016, major environmental crises that disproportionately affect people of color — such as the Flint water crisis and the fight over the location of the Dakota Access Pipeline — were undercovered by the national media for long periods, despite being reported by local and state media early on. The national media’s failure to spotlight these environmental issues as they arise effectively shuts the people in danger out of the national conversation, resulting in delayed political action and worsening conditions.
Politicians said a lot of dumb things in ’16
As we plunge into 2017, we should at least rejoice in having a chance to mothball a lot of ridiculous statements made over the past 12 months by politicians who should have known better. Let’s never hear again the phrase “basket of deplorables,” which Hillary Clinton unfortunately used to describe Donald Trump supporters.
Why the Democrats’ 2017 comeback dream is like nothing we’ve seen before
In 2004, the last time that Democrats comprehensively lost a national election, an argument broke out about how the party should reform. John F. Kerry had been just one state – Ohio – away from victory.
Nevada Sen. Dean Heller To Run For Reelection, Not Governor
Dean Heller made an announcement earlier this week that he would be seeking reelection for his Senate seat. The Nevada Republican had previously been mulling a gubernatorial run as Gov. Brian Sandoval is term limited and will be stepping down in 2018.
New North Carolina governor Cooper wastes no time stepping into role
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Gov. Inslee downplayed talk of taxes on the campaign trail. Then he…
Gov. Jay Inslee told voters during 2016 that fixing Washington schools would require lawmakers “to actually put meat on the bone.” When asked where that meat would come from, the first-term Democrat talked mainly about ending tax exemptions, as well as harnessing revenue from the state’s growing economy.
Wisconsin’s lakefront counties soon may be out of ozone rule compliance
Counties along Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Wisconsin may soon be out of compliance with new federal standards for ozone pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the ozone standard from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion in 2015 with the regulations effective in October 2017.
Charade: Over.
Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to sign a bill if it passes through the Texas Legislature next session. The bills come after two faithless electors in this month’s Electoral College vote in the Texas State Capitol refused to vote for the state’s winner.
Russian hackers penetrated US electricity grid through Vermont utility
A code associated with the Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by President Barack Obama’s administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont utility, according to U.S. officials. While the Russians did not actively use the code to disrupt operations, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a security matter, the discovery underscores the vulnerabilities of the nation’s electrical grid.
Slideshow: 2016 Texas news in photos
Daniil Eliseev, 19, from Dallas holds a flag reading “Pro Choice Texan” in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt is argued inside on March 2, 2016.
Hite: Lame-duck governor will face challenges
By LOU WILIN STAFF WRITER After bucking his own party for years, Gov. John Kasich has an “aura of lameduckness,” state Sen. Cliff Hite said Friday.
Some power restored to N.C. governor-elect – for now
A North Carolina judge granted a small victory to the state’s incoming Democratic governor on Friday, temporarily blocking a law by Republican lawmakers stripping him of control over elections in a legislative power play just weeks ago. Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens blocked the new law, which would end the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards, as Gov.-Elect Roy Cooper is set to take office Sunday.
California Licenses 800K Illegal Aliens as Motor Voter Law Looms – Breitbart
Over the last two years, the Golden State has licensed over 800,000 illegal aliens to drive, and as the new motor voter law AB 1461 goes into effect in 2017, anti-Trump lawmakers are vowing to fight the Trump administration on attempts to enforce immigration law. AB 60 went into effect on January 1, 2015, inviting well over a million illegal aliens in California to apply for driver licenses with lawmaker promises that their non-citizen status would not be shared with immigration authorities.
McCrory Makes Last Attempt to Stick It To His Successor
“With just one day to go before he leaves office, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory threw a legal Hail Mary to the U.S. Supreme Court in another apparent effort to undermine his Democratic successor’s ability to govern,” the Washington Post reports. “McCrory filed an emergency request to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to pause court-ordered special elections for more than two dozen state legislative districts in 2017 – special elections in which Democrats could have an opportunity to pick up seats in North Carolina’s GOP-dominated legislature.”
Some power restored to North Carolina’s gov.-elect _ for now
Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens blocked the new law, which would end the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards, as Gov.-Elect Roy Cooper is set to take office Sunday. Stephens ruled that the risk to future free and fair elections justified the temporary block and said he plans to review the law more closely Thursday.
2016 Golden Duke Awards Winners Announced
TPM is pleased to announce the winners of the Tenth Annual Golden Duke Awards recognizing the year’s best purveyors of public corruption, outlandish behavior, The Crazy, nonsense and all relevant betrayals of the public trust. The awards are named in honor of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who epitomizes the iconic modern scandal.
Judge puts stay on bill limiting Coopera s power –
A North Carolina judge granted a small victory to the state’s incoming Democratic governor on Friday, temporarily blocking a law by Republican lawmakers stripping him of control over elections in a legislative power play just weeks ago. Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens blocked the new law, which would end the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards, as Gov.-Elect Roy Cooper is set to take office Sunday.
Where suburban precincts changed from the GOP to Clinton
Five out of six Chicago-area counties voted for Hillary Clinton for president on Nov. 8, but our analysis of unofficial returns shows that many precincts in those counties had more Republican votes cast in the March primary. We took our analysis of primary election results — which showed whether a precinct had more Democratic or Republican voters — and compared that to unofficial precinct results from the general election in November.
Trump ally who said he wished President Obama would die of ‘cow…
Trump ally who said he wished President Obama would die of ‘cow disease’ and wanted Michelle to ‘return to being a male in the outback’ is told to resign In an email to a magazine, Paladino said he hoped President Obama died of mad cow disease after ‘having relations with a Hereford’ He said he wanted Michelle Obama to ‘return to being a male’ so she could live with a ‘gorilla in the outback of Zimbabwe’ A controversial Trump ally has been told to resign his school board job a week after shocking comments about Barack and Michelle Obama. Carl Paladino said he wished the president would die of mad cow disease while the first lady should ‘return to being a male’ in the ‘Zimbabwean outback’ in an extraordinary outburst.
States face off over Clean Power Plan
Two weeks after officials in two dozen states asked Republican President-elect Donald Trump to kill one of Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature plans to curb global warming, another group of state officials is urging Trump to save it. Democratic attorneys general in 15 states plus four cities and counties sent a letter to Trump asking him to preserve Obama’s Clean Power Plan, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the lead author, announced Thursday.
Final step of Indiana income tax cut effective Jan. 1
Indiana’s personal income tax rate will drop slightly beginning New Year’s Day, completing a phased-in reduction that’s half of the 10 percent cut Republican Gov. Mike Pence pushed during his 2012 campaign. The state income tax rate will become 3.23 percent for 2017, down from the 3.3 percent rate that’s been in place the past two years.