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
What to Make of ISIS Claim of Responsibility for Texas Shootings
ISIS has claimed responsibility for a failed attack that occurred on Sunday in Garland, Texas. At the “First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest,” two individuals using rifles opened fire just before nightfall. The individuals pulled up to the entrance, which had received enhanced security measures due to the controversial event, and according to Garland…Jennifer Guthrie -
- News
New Hampshire Bill Would Institute 30-Day Residency Requirement to Vote
A bill has been passed by the New Hampshire state Senate that would require voters to reside in the state for 30 days before becoming eligible to vote. Senate Bill 179 was passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate in a party-line vote, and is currently in committee in the House. New Hampshire law currently permits…Kate Scanlon -
- News
How Ohio Aims to ‘Set a National Race’ for Transparency
Last December, the Ohio State treasurer, Josh Mandel, launched OhioCheckbook.com, a website specifically dedicated to showing taxpayers exactly where their dollars are going. However the journey to this new endeavor wasn’t as simple. “I identified a problem in our state government that everyday taxpayers couldn’t see how money was being spent,” Mandel said at a…Thaleigha Rampersad -
- Opinion
Wisconsin Home Invasions: When the Government Upends Democracy
Cindy woke up to a battering ram at her front door. She opened the door to a rushing mob of policemen, yelling and barging through her house with no explanation. She begged them not to shoot her barking dogs. Another had to wake her children with an armed policeman at the foot of their beds….Mark Meckler -
- Opinion
Colorado Legislation Strikes Right Balance to Protect Pregnant Women and Their Unborn Children
Following the horrific attack on a 7-month pregnant woman in Longmont, Colo., The New York Times ran an opinion piece expressing opposition to a proposed fetal homicide bill, explaining that it would end up dramatically and unjustly restricting the freedom of pregnant women. Dynel Lane, the ex-nurse’s aide who cut an unborn child from her…Elizabeth Slattery -
- News
How California Cities Are Making Millions Seizing Property and Money From Law-Abiding Citizens
In a small number of cities clustered in Los Angeles County, Calif., people are seeing their property and money seized by law enforcement through civil asset forfeiture, and it’s making police departments tens of millions of dollars. California has safeguards in place to protect innocent people from the harmful practices of civil asset forfeiture. However, a…Paul Runko -
- News
Kentucky Court Says Printing Business Has Right to Deny Service for Religious Reasons
A Kentucky court ruled on Monday that a Lexington printing business does not have to print messages that are in conflict with its religious beliefs. The decision runs contrary to recent high profile rulings, including ones against Oregon bakers and a Washington florist who were punished for refusing to serve same-sex weddings. >>> Bakers Facing $135K…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Should Texas Require Hair Stylists to Have Over 2,000 Hours of Training to Legally Braid Hair?
Did you know Texas imposes stringent license regulations in order to open an African hair braiding business, including a requirement to attend more than 2,000 hours of barber school? Now the Texas Legislature is moving forward on a bill that gives their citizens the freedom to pursue a career in this field without onerous regulatory…Jordan Richardson -
- Opinion
The Justice Department’s War on Texas’ Voter ID Law
On Tuesday, April 28, Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller will be up before a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals again, his second appearance there in two weeks. But this time, instead of arguing over the unconstitutionality of President Obama’s immigration amnesty plan, he will be arguing that the Texas voter ID…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Bureaucratic Commissions Won’t Get Mississippi out of Common Core
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) has just vetoed an “anti”–Common Core bill. He was right to do so. The bill didn’t do what its backers said it would do: withdraw Mississippi from Common Core. In remarks yesterday, Bryant stated, “I remain firmly committed to ending Common Core in Mississippi. This bill does not accomplish that…Lindsey Burke -
- Opinion
How Florida Is Trying to Push Back Against Federal Government Overreach
Federalism at the state level is more often preached than practiced. For all the invocations of the 10th Amendment, state officials tend to act as vassals of the federal government tasked with assisting in the implementation of federal policies. Federal encroachments on state powers are either eagerly embraced—46 states have adopted Common Core—or accepted with passive…David Azerrad -
- News
Insiders Detail Culture of Secrecy at California’s Obamacare Exchange
Aiden Hill’s introduction to the secretive culture at Covered California came in his first days on the job. He had just been hired to head up the agency’s $120 million call center effort when he emailed a superior April 18, 2013, and got a text message in reply: Please refrain from writing a lot of…Sharyl Attkisson -
- News
Incompetence, Mismanagement Plague California’s Obamacare Insurance Exchange
California’s health insurance exchange, established under the Affordable Care Act, has been held out as a national model for Obamacare. In some ways—not all of them good—it is. Whether it’s falling far short of 2015 enrollment goals or sending out 100,000 inaccurate tax forms, Covered California is struggling with its share of challenges. Now, several…Sharyl Attkisson -
- Opinion
How Oklahoma City Rebounded From America’s Worst Act of Home-Grown Terrorism
It’s been 20 years since we experienced the worst act of American home-grown terrorism at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. This solemn day stands as a reminder of the 168 souls that were lost. On a day where anger lashed out, Oklahomans responded with compassion. Every year since April 19, 1995,…Sen. James Lankford -
- Opinion
Out-of-State Billionaire Wages War on Affordable Energy in Nebraska
I had the privilege of serving as mayor in the small, Shenandoah Valley town where my wife and I raised our children. So, I am keenly aware of concerns about powerful out-of-state or out-of-area interests trying to take advantage of a rural population. The Nebraskan battles over the Keystone XL pipeline and the Terex injection…David Kreutzer -
- News
Photo Essay: The Oklahoma City Bombing, 20 Years Later
On April 19, 1995, 168 people were killed and 680 injured in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City—leaving the country in mourning and in shock. The blast damaged or destroyed 324 buildings, ruined 86 cars and shattered 258 windows in nearby buildings. It was the work of two…Kelsey Lucas -
- News
K-12 School Removes Washington Post Profile of Ryan T. Anderson From Its Facebook Page. Here’s Why.
Yesterday, The Heritage Foundation’s leading scholar on marriage policy was featured on the front page of The Washington Post as the right’s “fresh voice on same-sex marriage.” The premise of the article was this: A day in the life of Ryan T. Anderson, whose work reflects the belief that marriage should only be between a…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Major Bank Won’t Do Business With a Florida Gun and Pawn Shop. Is Choke Point to Blame?
Earlier this month, a small gun and pawn shop owner in Florida appeared to have found himself in the middle of an Operation Choke Point controversy when SunTrust Bank, out of the blue, closed his bank account. Some, including Steve Champion, the owner of American Gun & Pawn in Brooksville, Fla., were quick to blame…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Missouri Welfare Reform Bill Would Ban Buying Lobster, Steak With Food Stamps
A bill introduced in the Missouri legislature would limit the types of food that recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits would be able to purchase. House Bill 813, introduced by Republican state Rep. Rick Brattin, would prohibit a recipient of SNAP benefits to use the funds for “cookies, chips, energy drinks, soft drinks, seafood,…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
New Mexico Enacts Sweeping Civil Forfeiture Reform
Last month, the New Mexico legislature unanimously passed a bipartisan bill essentially abolishing civil forfeiture in the Land of Enchantment (yes, that’s what they call themselves). But weeks went by and it looked like Gov. Susana Martinez was going to pocket veto the bill. If she hadn’t signed the bill by noon Tuesday, it would…Andrew Kloster