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
Ohio Makes State Government Spending Data Publicly Available Online
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel is seeking to “set a new national standard for transparency” with a website that allows users to study how funds are being spent in the state. OhioCheckbook.com enables users to examine over $400 billion dollars in state spending over seven fiscal years in state spending. Information is presented in interactive charts…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
How Wisconsin’s Right to Work Laws Could Boost Union Members
Many wonder how right-to-work laws will affect Wisconsin. To see how, consider another question: Do monopolies help or hurt customers? Until now, unions have had a monopoly in many Wisconsin workplaces. They didn’t have to persuade workers to purchase their services; they could force them to. Anyone who didn’t pay dues — averaging about $700…James Sherk -
- Opinion
Indiana Protects Religious Liberty. Why That’s Good Policy.
In a victory for religious freedom, earlier today Gov. Mike Pence, R-Ind., signed into law the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This is good policy that protects the fundamental freedom of Indiana citizens from unnecessary and unreasonable government coercion. The Indiana law is based on the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act—a law that has served…Ryan T. Anderson -
- News
True or False? Jeb Bush’s Education Reforms Boosted Florida’s Schoolchildren
It's not every governor who can say the record shows his state's schoolchildren did better because he applied conservative principles of choice and accountability. Jeb Bush can and does. “The aggregate improvements we’ve seen in Florida really can’t be ignored,” Marcus Winters, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado’s College of Education who has studied what Bush…Ken McIntyre -
- Opinion
Wisconsin Is Finally Free to Implement Voter ID Law
Great news for those interested in election integrity and common sense reforms like voter ID: The Supreme Court today removed the final legal obstacle to implementing Wisconsin’s voter ID law. The Court refused to hear the American Civil Liberties Union’s appeal of a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals decision that threw out the injunction issued against…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
This Couple Lost $30K to the Government. Now Maryland Lawmakers Are Pushing Reform.
Earlier this month, the Maryland House of Delegates took a big step forward in the push for civil asset forfeiture reform. By a margin of 81-54, the House approved H.B. 360, which proposes dramatic changes to Maryland’s forfeiture program. Though noble in intention, forfeiture laws have skewed law enforcement incentives and weighted the system too…Jason Snead -
- Opinion
Cartoon: Washington’s Idea of ‘Budgeting’
Interested in learning more about the budget? Check out The Heritage Foundation's analyses of the Republican House and Senate budgets—and whether Republicans were willing to make the tough cuts or not: • How Does the House Budget Measure Up? • How Does the Senate Budget Measure Up?Glenn Foden -
- News
In Texas, State Leaders Attack Local Governments for Going Big on Regulations
They say everything is bigger in Texas. Some argue that the saying even applies to the state’s local governments. Conservatives often contend that more decision making should be done at the local level, but what if local governments overreach their authority? Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has been vocal about his opposition to what…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Scott Walker Explains His Tax Philosophy to New Hampshire Activists, Calls It ‘Kohl’s Curve’
Concord, N.H.—Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker spoke to a crowd of Republican grassroots activists at Concord High School in New Hampshire today. Walker, a likely presidential candidate, visited the Granite State, home of the nation’s first presidential primary, to lay out a three-part platform: “growth, reform and safety.” According to Walker, economic growth doesn’t occur in…Kate Scanlon -
- News
West Virginia Overrides Governor’s Veto, Passes Law Banning Abortion After 20 Weeks
The West Virginia legislature has passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, overriding the governor’s veto of the legislation. On Friday, the West Virginia state Senate voted 27 to 5 to authorize House Bill 2568. According to the Associated Press, a simple majority is all that is needed to override a gubernatorial veto on matters…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
In Colorado, Yoga Teachers Fight Big Government
“How can you have people who know nothing about yoga regulating yoga schools?” That was the complaint made to The New York Times by the aptly-named Annie Prasad Freedom, founder of a yoga studio in Denver. In Colorado, yoga teacher instructors like Freedom face a host of regulations and must be certified by the state….Katrina Trinko -
- News
In Iowa, 2016ers Reluctant to Challenge Farm Industry’s Sacred Cows
DES MOINES, Iowa—Toward the end of the Iowa Ag Summit, the eighth in a parade of nine likely Republican candidates for president cozied up to the crowd with a salute to the can-do spirit of the American farmer. “There is no free market in agriculture,” says @DarenBakst Rick Santorum, former Pennsylvania senator and winner of…Ken McIntyre -
- Opinion
How Wisconsin Becoming a Right-to-Work State Will Boost Its Job Growth
(This article was originally published last week, before the Wisconsin state assembly passed right-to-work legislation.) Wisconsin is poised this week to become the 25th “right-to-work state,” ending forced unionization and allowing individual workers to decide if they want to join a union or not. The Wisconsin Senate just recently passed right-to-work, and our sources in Madison…Stephen Moore -
- News
At Iowa Ag Summit, GOP’s 2016 Presidential Prospects Make Their Pitch
DES MOINES, Iowa—The Ag Summit convened this morning just off the slightly run-down corner of East 30th and Walnut streets, a stone’s throw from establishments such as Fairground Hardware, Marty's Barber Shop, Rumors Tattoos ’n’ Piercings and the Home Plate Diner. At a table inside the diner Friday evening, a middle-aged man named Greg is…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Here’s Why Some New York Towns Want to Secede to Pennsylvania
Some residents of New York’s Southern Tier have proposed seceding to Pennsylvania. Residents of the area say they're unable to capitalize on the gas-rich Marcellus Shale due to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fracking ban. "The Southern Tier is desolate," Conklin town supervisor Jim Finch told WBNG. "We have no jobs and no income. The richest…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
Alabama Supreme Court Declares School Choice Program Constitutional
In the latest vindication of school choice, on Monday the Alabama Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s ruling by upholding the constitutionality of the state’s Accountability Act of 2013— which created two tax credit scholarships for children trapped in failing schools. As of 2013, individuals have been able to benefit from a tax credit for…Brittany Corona -
- News
With Scott Walker’s Signature, Wisconsin Will Become the 25th Right-to-Work State
Wisconsin is one step closer to becoming the 25th right-to-work state. The Wisconsin State Assembly today approved right-to-work legislation barring unions from requiring workers to pay the equivalent of dues. The Republican-controlled State Assembly passed the bill 62-35 in a party-line vote after almost 20 hours of debate. Gov. Scott Walker, who is expected to…Kate Scanlon -
- News
The Loophole That Could Liberate Maryland From Common Core Testing
As millions of students across the nation begin taking Common Core-aligned standardized tests for the first time, Maryland finds itself in a unique position to opt-out. A loophole discovered by a state lawmaker gives the governor the power to withdraw Maryland from tests created by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC),…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
‘Protect the Land Owner’: Virginia Farmer Continues Fight Against Environmental Group
Instead of filing the same version of the conservation easement that was signed by its president and a Virginia farmer, the Piedmont Environmental Council pulled a “bait and switch” that dramatically altered the document’s terms and conditions. That’s one of several revelations that have come to light in the past few days as Martha Boneta,…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
How Kentucky Counties Are Making the Bluegrass State a Right-to-Work State
The national spotlight has focused on Wisconsin’s push to become the nation’s 25th right-to-work state. Reporters have paid much less attention to an equally important story in Kentucky: the rapid expansion of local right-to-work laws. Kentucky—like many states—delegates its localities “home rule” powers. Counties can regulate extensively so long as they do not contravene state…James Sherk