State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
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opinion
New Jersey’s Federalism Wager Pays Off Big
Our Founding Fathers wisely recognized that, to safeguard individual liberty, power must be divided up between different branches and levels of government. To preserve that system, courts must block any effort to upend that division, whether it be an imperious president seeking to force Congress to pass particular legislation, or a Congress similarly dictating to… -
opinion
Connecticut Subverts the Electoral College, Rejecting Its Own History
Opponents of the Electoral College achieved an important victory last weekend when Connecticut’s legislature passed the so-called National Popular Vote compact. Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is expected to sign the measure. Most Americans have never heard of the National Popular Vote compact, but it is shockingly close to causing a major political and legal… -
opinion
Is Robert Mueller Going to Investigate George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson, Too?
Those who claim that President Donald Trump is guilty of obstructing justice because he fired James Comey or because he asked Comey if he could go easy on Michael Flynn are way off base. And so is Robert Mueller if he is actually conducting such an investigation. What none of these critics seem to understand… -
opinion
Same Policies That Failed to Stop Florida Shooter Exist in School Districts Nationwide
Critics of President Donald Trump said his response to the Florida school shooting earlier this year was ill-conceived and a failure. Yet a new startling revelation from school district officials in Broward County, Florida, shows the White House’s response was indeed appropriate—more than even the Trump administration knew. On Feb. 14, Nikolas Cruz, a student… -
news
California Might Require Every Home to Install a Solar Panel
California is widely expected to become the first state in the U.S. to require solar panel installations for nearly all new homes. The California Energy Commission will vote on Wednesday whether to enact a sweeping new mandate that will artificially propagate the state’s solar energy sector. If passed, the proposed rule will require solar panels to be installed in… -
opinion
Problematic Women: New York Times Writer Calls Motherhood ‘Dumbest Job Ever’
Is motherhood “the dumbest job ever”? Just in time for Mother’s Day, that’s what one New York Times writer is suggesting. We talk about this, along with a new book detailing Hillary Clinton’s campaign hypocrisies, and the trend of members in Congress sleeping in their offices because they can’t afford rent (or so they say)… -
opinion
California’s Next Step in the Sexual Revolution: Silencing Certain Beliefs
The same voices who claimed that the sexual revolution was about expanding personal choice are now seeking to strip away the freedom of people to pursue their self-chosen counseling goals. Instead, they want to force people into narrow boxes, whether they want to live in those boxes or not. At least that’s the direction things… -
opinion
Free Speech Efforts on Campus Face Uphill Battle in California
A California venture capitalist has gathered enough signatures to put before voters this fall the idea of breaking his state into three. Skeptics say the proposal will fare no better than previous efforts to do the same, yet the state is already politically fractured—and nowhere are the fissures more evident than on the state’s college… -
news
Afraid LGBT Speech Law Will Pass in California, Christian Ministry Cancels 2 Conferences There
A Christian educational organization has canceled two leadership sessions in California because a bill moving through the state Legislature would censor speech and religious freedom. California “is just about to ban Christians from giving advice about sexual ethics based on the Bible that has been followed by billions of people for thousands of years,” Summit… -
opinion
I Apologize to Amy Chozick, but Her Error-Filled Clinton Book Provides Window Into New York Times
Editor’s note: Former Hillary Clinton aide Philippe Reines emailed these comments to Katrina Trinko, managing editor of The Daily Signal, when she asked for a response to New York Times reporter Amy Chozick’s account, in a new book about Clinton, of Reines’ making a vulgar, sexually suggestive remark to Chozick, saying to her, “I didn’t… -
opinion
3 Revelations From New York Times Reporter’s Book on Hillary Clinton
New York Times reporter Amy Chozick’s new book on her time covering Hillary Clinton doesn’t show either her employer, The New York Times, or Clinton herself in a particularly flattering light. Chozick, a member of the largely female press corps that followed Clinton on a near-daily basis at times, crisscrossing the country with her, reported… -
opinion
Wisconsin Forges Ahead on Welfare Reform
Wisconsin is taking the lead on welfare reform. In February, the state Legislature passed nine bills, which Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign. The state government is taking advantage of record-low unemployment and strong job creation numbers to help all of its able citizens enter the workforce. Among other measures, Wisconsin’s bold plan implements… -
opinion
Arizona Passes Law to Protect Free Speech on Campus
For the second time in three years, Arizona lawmakers have strengthened laws protecting free speech on public college campuses. In 2016, state lawmakers banned so-called “free speech zones” on public university campuses, and on Wednesday, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation that protects individuals’ rights to demonstrate on campus. It also prohibits a school from… -
opinion
This Illinois Town’s Story Shows the Fate Others Will Face in Pension Crisis
Generous pensions have always been a prime perk of government jobs. Now those pensions are causing government layoffs, reduced services, and tax increases. Take Harvey, Illinois. The city has laid off half of its fire department and 13 police officers so it can meet its obligations to its retired police officers and firefighters—the result of… -
opinion
LGBT Megadonor Who Wants to ‘Punish the Wicked’ Pushes Pennsylvania Bill
Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for political and religious diversity. Now, a Pennsylvania bill poses an existential threat to that history of freedom and tolerance by reinforcing a disturbing trend already happening at the local level. Last year, the state Senate introduced Senate Bill 613, an act that would amend the Pennsylvania… -
opinion
Podcast: California Tries to Silence Social Conservatives
California state lawmakers are considering a bill that would curb speech about LGBT matters. The Daily Signal’s Jarrett Stepman joins us to discuss. Plus: Dr. Michelle Cretella, who has written for The Daily Signal, gets dozens of protesters when she goes to speak at a church about transgender issues. -
opinion
Senate Confirms ‘the Neil Gorsuch of Louisiana’ to High-Ranking Federal Bench
The Senate voted 50-47 on Tuesday to confirm all-star appellate lawyer Kyle Duncan to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Duncan is President Donald Trump’s 15th circuit court nominee to be confirmed since taking office. Dubbed by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry as “the Neil Gorsuch of Louisiana,” Duncan is currently a lawyer in private… -
opinion
New York Times Confirms Why So Many People Doubt Its Best-Seller List
In my last column—“The New York Times Best-Seller List: Another Reason Americans Don’t Trust the Media“—I used my recently published book as evidence that The New York Times best-seller list is not a best-seller list. I pointed out that the book, “The Rational Bible: Exodus,” the first volume of my commentary on the first five… -
opinion
California Considers Bill That Would Make Traditional Views on Sexuality Illegal
A new bill in California claims to protect LGBT people, but actually limits their choices, censors speech, and infringes upon religious freedom. AB 2943 would amend the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act—a consumer law that outlaws unfair and deceptive practices—by adding so-called “sexual orientation change efforts” to a list of banned practices. It would in… -
news
This 29-Year-Old ‘Hero’ Saved Several Lives During Tennessee Waffle House Shooting, Police Say
A 29-year-old man saved numerous lives after he took down the shooter who opened fire at a Waffle House in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday morning, according to police. James Shaw Jr. saw a chance to take down the shooter and did not hesitate, he said. The gunman entered naked except for a green jacket, which he later took…