State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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- News
Iowa Civil Rights Agency Says It Won’t Tell Pastors What to Preach on Sexuality
Iowa’s human rights agency, in a “clarification,” says it will not muzzle churches that teach on matters of biblical sexuality, nor force them to open single-sex restrooms to members of the opposite sex. The Iowa Civil Rights Commission said it has revised its brochure on “Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity” to state that churches generally are…Leah Jessen -
- News
Connecticut to Register Voters at DMV. What Could Go Wrong? Critics Ask
The 2014 Connecticut governor’s race was decided by about 30,000 votes statewide. Four years earlier, the contest was decided by just about 6,000 votes. So it’s a concern for state Rep. Arthur O’Neill, a Republican, that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles—which recently misidentified more than 50,000 people for having unpaid taxes on their vehicles—will…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Booker T. Washington and the Promise of Racial Reconciliation
We are all trying to recalibrate our praise and blame of Americans once revered as “great.” Yale University is rightly conflicted over John C. Calhoun, and the state of Maryland is rightly conflicted over Roger B. Taney. Given the major role these two men played in hardening pro-slavery sentiment and hastening the Civil War, I…Diana Schaub -
- Opinion
Ohio Treasurer Leads and Inspires Government Transparency
Let’s take a look at a good thing happening in the great state of Ohio, shall we? The state treasurer’s office is leading the way in transparency by taking Ohio’s checkbook online, giving citizens an easy way to track spending at all levels of government within the state, and helping Ohio earn the No. 1 ranking in…Timothy Doescher -
- News
IRS to Return $30K It Seized From Maryland Dairy Farmers
After more than four years, two congressional hearings, and countless pleas to the IRS and Justice Department, Randy Sowers’ fight with the federal government is finally coming to a close. The Internal Revenue Service is returning the $29,500 it took from the Frederick County, Maryland, dairy farmer, ending his long journey through the civil asset forfeiture…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Obama Administration Coy on Expanding Obamacare to California Illegal Immigrants
California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to expand Obamacare to cover illegal immigrants, but now it’s up to the Obama administration to determine if the nation’s largest state will get an exemption related to a specific promise the president made when trying to sell the health care law. The Golden State will be asking…Fred Lucas -
- News
Texas AG Explains 11 States’ Lawsuit Over Obama’s School Bathroom Policy
On May 25, officials in 11 states filed a federal lawsuit against the Obama administration’s transgender bathroom directive issued to public schools nationwide. Leading that charge is Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sat down with The Daily Signal to explain his case. Watch the interview to hear about the legal strategy Paxton intends to…Kelsey Bolar -
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This New Law Ensures South Carolina Students Will Study the Founding Documents
Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, signed a South Carolina House bill into law that implements the study of U.S. founding documents into the state’s public high schools. The South Carolina Founding Principles Act requires the study of the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and “the structure of the government and the role of separation…Faith Vander Voort -
- News
K-12 Gender Identity Standards Surprise Some Washington Parents
Kaeley Triller Haver is no stranger to the transgender bathroom debate. After being sexually assaulted as a child and going public with her story, the single mom from Washington state now opposes shower, locker room, and bathroom policies that she believes leave her and her daughter vulnerable and unsafe. So earlier this month, when she found…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Conservatives Battle Virginia Governor’s Order to Allow Ex-Felons to Vote
On multiple fronts, conservatives are challenging Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s executive order to restore voting rights to ex-felons who have completed their prison sentences. This week, Judicial Watch, the conservative advocacy group, filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Bedford County, seeking to prevent ex-felons who gain from McAuliffe’s April 22 order from voting…Josh Siegel -
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Audit Shows Majority of North Carolina Bathroom Bill Protest Petitions Were From Out of State
Petitions delivered by LGBT activists to the North Carolina governor’s office, calling for a repeal of the state’s “bathroom bill,” were mostly signed by out-of-state individuals, the North State Journal reported. In March, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, signed House Bill 2 that established public restroom facility accessibility be based on biological sex….Leah Jessen -
- News
Massachusetts AG Investigating Conservative Groups With Ties to Exxon Mobil
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is now the latest state prosecutor to start investigating conservative groups with supposed ties to Exxon Mobil Corp., after she issued a subpoena for 40 years of internal company documents and communications with a handful of think tanks. Healey’s office subpoenaed Exxon as part of a multistate effort among liberal…Michael Bastasch -
- News
After Iowa Governor Calls for Bible-Reading Marathon, Groups Threaten to Sue
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad is encouraging citizens of his state to spend more time reading the Bible, by calling for a Bible-reading marathon. However, a couple of organizations are threatening to sue over what they believe is a violation of the separation between church and state. Branstad, a Republican, signed a proclamation encouraging Iowans to…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
Alabama Congressman Wants to Help Puerto Rico by Fighting Crony Capitalism
Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., recently proposed an amendment to legislation on Puerto Rico that would exempt the island from the Jones Act. The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, requires vessels transporting goods within the United States to be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and at least 75 percent U.S.-crewed. According to the…Bryan Riley -
- News
California Could Become the First State to Expand Coverage to Illegal Immigrants Under Obamacare
California state lawmakers are one step closer to expanding coverage under Obamacare to illegal immigrants, sending a bill to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk that would allow those living in the state illegally to buy health insurance on the exchange with their own money. The California Legislature passed a bill last week setting in motion a…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Michigan Lawmaker: Parents Have a Right to Know What Bathroom Their Child Is Using at School
A Michigan state lawmaker introduced legislation to help protect parental rights, especially when it comes to knowing if their child is using the boys’ or girls’ restroom at school and who has access to that restroom. The departments of Education and Justice issued a joint transgender student directive to schools across the country in May,…Leah Jessen -
- News
Students Sue North Carolina State University for Regulating Religious Speech
A student-led Christian group filed a lawsuit against North Carolina State University for allegedly restricting their First Amendment rights by demanding they obtain a speech permit. The federal court hearing took place Thursday where Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, represented Grace Christian Life, a non-denominational Christian church that organizes services and fellowship…Faith Vander Voort -
- Opinion
How a New Hampshire Law Will Protect Private Property From Government Seizure
The New Hampshire Legislature adopted a significant bill to protect private property on Thursday, which will reform the practice of civil asset forfeiture in the state. The sudden move comes after a lengthy debate that nearly saw SB 522 stripped of one of its most important provisions: the elimination of the financial incentive to seize…Jason Snead -
- News
Indiana Lawmakers Reject Obama’s Stimulus Success Story
When President Barack Obama first visited Elkhart, Indiana, in March 2009, the county’s unemployment rate had just spiked to 18.9 percent—the highest in the country. Pointing to those numbers at the time, Obama urged Congress to pass an $800 billion economic stimulus package to keep the nation from slipping further into a recession “we may be…Philip Wegmann -
- Opinion
The Zombie Voter Apocalypse: California Refuses to Admit Its Voter Fraud Problem
Hollywood has always loved making films about the walking dead, but in Southern California it appears they have a real life problem with “zombie” voters. An investigation by CBSLA2 and KCAL9 found that hundreds of deceased persons are still on voter registration rolls in the area, and that many of these names have been voting…Hans von Spakovsky