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
FBI Arrests Ohio Man for Plotting Attack on U.S. Capitol
The FBI has arrested an Ohio man for allegedly plotting an “ISIS-inspired” attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to ABC News. The FBI said agents arrested Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, in Ohio as he allegedly was taking the final steps toward traveling to the nation’s capital to carry out the plan. ABC reports that government…Josh Siegel -
- Opinion
Should You Be Jailed for Committing a Crime You Didn’t Know Was a Crime? New Ohio Law Tackles Issue.
Ohio recently enacted a new law to reform the way criminal statutes are written and interpreted in that state. That measure is a step in the right direction toward remedying the problem of overcriminalization. Senate Bill 361, sponsored by Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, passed with the overwhelming support of the Ohio General Assembly and was signed…John G. Malcolm -
- Opinion
Why Washington Politicians Want to Hike the Gas Tax
Suddenly everyone in Washington wants a gas tax hike—apparently so consumers don’t save too much money at the pump. As prices keep falling, the politicians and the moochers in Washington want a piece of the action. Rather than raise the federal gas tax, a better policy would be to repeal the federal tax and let…Stephen Moore -
- Opinion
Texas Pro-Life Law Prompts Judges to Weigh Health Risks of Abortion to Women
In the latest challenge to Texas’ so-called “pro-life law of the century” (passed as H.B. 2), last week a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case Whole Woman’s Health v. Lakey. Abortion providers, including Whole Woman’s Health Clinic in McAllen, Texas, sued the state to keep key provisions of…Josh Shepherd -
- News
The Real Story of George Washington’s Decisive Christmas Attack at Trenton
TRENTON, N.J.—We all know the story from high school history. Or think we do. Gen. George Washington and his tired and tiny Continental Army scored one of the most significant battlefield victories in American history at Christmas in 1776. The Continentals launched a surprise attack on the Hessians—mercenaries from Germany who were protecting Trenton, N.J.,…Kevin Mooney -
- News
Vermont Lawmaker Who Asked Tough Questions About Single-Payer Health Care Kicked Off Health Committee
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont’s newly re-elected House speaker Shap Smith spoke of hope and opportunity in his address to the 73rd biennial Legislature Wednesday. But among the speaker’s first acts was to remove a whistleblower and outspoken critic of single-payer health care from a powerful health committee. State Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, was noticeably absent…Bruce Parker -
- News
New York City Just Banned Yet Another Common Product
Enjoy your takeout while you can, New York. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his administration announced on Thursday that the city will ban polystyrene foam, effective July 1. Polystyrene foam is used in products such as packing peanuts and containers for takeout food and drink. Reuters reports that the ban fulfills a…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
In Nevada, You Need a License to Teach How to Apply Makeup
LAS VEGAS —Two years ago, the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology fined and shut down two makeup instruction businesses owned by Lissette Waugh and Wendy Robin. The reason: Although “the state of Nevada doesn’t require a license to practice as a makeup artist, the teaching of any cosmetic application requires a licensed cosmetology school,” said…Carlo Maffatt -
- News
Virginia Farmer’s Property Rights Dispute With Green Group Hits Another Snag
Virginia farmer Martha Boneta thought her long-running dispute with a local green group was coming to an end. But now, that light at the end of the tunnel has gone dark again. Efforts to reach a settlement with a local green group, the Piedmont Environmental Council, are on hold. The PEC currently oversees enforcement duties…Kevin Mooney -
- Opinion
How New York City Could Be Affected By the NYPD’s Slowdown in Arrests
The front-line officers of the New York Police Department appear to be engaged in a work slowdown following the recent executions of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. In part, the slowdown appears to be a response to an accumulation of anti-police statements and activities by Mayor Bill de Blasio, including controversial comments and an…David B. Muhlhausen -
- Opinion
Pennsylvania Grand Jury Recommends Criminal Charges Against State Attorney General
The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that a statewide grand jury has recommended criminal charges be filed against Pennsylvania Attorney General (and voter ID opponent) Kathleen Kane for perjury and contempt of court over the leaking of secret grand jury information. Kane, a Democrat, had been in the news recently after a local grand jury convened…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Nebraska Supreme Court Hands Keystone XL Supporters Major Victory
The Nebraska Supreme Court handed supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline a major victory today, approving the state’s proposed route for the project. The court upheld a 2012 state law granting former Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican, the power to approve the proposed route for Keystone XL through the state. The decision was…Melissa Quinn -
- News
Virginia Attorney General Sits Out Fighting Obama Administration on Immigration Executive Action
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is sitting out the legal fight over President Obama’s controversial amnesty order, even though illegal immigration costs Virginians more than $1.8 billion a year. Indeed, while 25 other state attorneys general are suing the administration to block the path to citizenship for some 5 million illegals in this country, Virginia Attorney…Kenric Ward -
- News
Fracking Supporters in New York Aren’t Giving Up, Despite State Ban
Andrew Cuomo has banned hydraulic fracturing in New York, but that doesn’t mean the battle is over. On Monday night, a big crowd in Binghamton braved sub-freezing temperatures to attend a pro-natural gas rally at a local Holiday Inn blasting the governor. “He made a purely political decision,” said Dan Fitzsimmons, executive director of the…Rob Nikolewski -
- News
Colorado Launches $5.7 Million Campaign to Encourage Responsible Pot Use
“Just say no” is a thing of the past for Colorado’s marijuana users. The state is shifting its weed tactics, pouring $5.7 million into a marijuana education program aimed at encouraging responsible use. Larry Wolk, the state’s chief medical officer, told USA Today the new “Good to Know” campaign is not intended to prevent marijuana…Natalie Johnson -
- News
Federal Taxpayers Help Virginia Make $2 Million Health Care Advertising Push
Federal taxpayers are pitching in $2 million for a marketing campaign to make sure Virginians eligible for government-subsidized health care know how to enroll. The commonwealth isn’t expanding Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, at least not yet. Still, a federal exchange grant that runs through December 2015 will help Gov. Terry McAuliffe accomplish…Kathryn Watson -
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John Kasich Defends Medicaid Expansion in Ohio
Gov. John Kasich demanded fiscal responsibility and defended his Obamacare Medicaid expansion during a recent speech before the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “People, ya know, there’s all this thing about Republicans don’t wanna spend and Democrats do. Conservatives on the Republican side say, ‘We want smaller government.’ Well, go and talk to them about how…Jason Hart -
- Opinion
California Just Started Another Insane Government Project
Talk about a trainwreck. Today, California broke ground on another disastrous government-funded project: high-speed rail that will eventually go from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The project is estimated to cost $68 billion. The plan is that the private sector will ultimately invest around one-third of the total cost, but so far, there have been…Katrina Trinko -
- News
Mississippi Lawmakers to Tackle Education, Taxes
In Mississippi, lawmakers already are gearing up to tackle education, tax relief and the state’s contracting system, among other issues. Here is a quick look at the three biggest issues the legislature will tackle in 2015: Education With a ballot initiative and a lawsuit on deck over K-12 education funding, the legislature will have to address…Steve Wilson -
- News
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Consider Giving Themselves Fewer Perks
HARRISBURG, Pa.—Rep. Brad Roae might be the most optimistic guy in the Pennsylvania Statehouse. Roae, a Republican from Crawford, Pa., has plans to push a trio of reform measures that would eliminate state cars for lawmakers, strip lawmakers’ cost-of-living increases and end per diem on weekends in some cases. They’re taxpayer-friendly ideas, but it’s uncertain…Andrew Staub