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
In One Kentucky County, Workers Might Soon Enjoy More Freedom
The momentum for right-to-work measures at the local level across the country might be gaining steam. Kentucky’s Warren County, which includes the city of Bowling Green, just passed a local right-to-work ordinance. A 5–1 bipartisan majority of the county legislature voted to make union dues voluntary for private-sector workers. The measure comes up for a second and final reading…James Sherk -
- News
Local Leaders Try New Tactic to Bring Right-to-Work Laws to Kentucky
Kentucky is not a right-to-work state, but one of its counties soon may be. Local officials in Warren County are to vote Friday on a measure that would remove the requirement that workers in some jobs must join a union and pay union dues as a condition of employment. A first reading of the measure…Kevin Mooney -
- News
Ohio Governor to Sign Bill Restricting Red Light, Speed Cameras
Ohio Gov. John Kasich will sign a bill to limit how municipalities can use red light and speed cameras, said his spokesman, Rob Nichols. “We don’t have the bill yet, so I don’t have a sense of timing,” he wrote in an email. “But the governor will sign it.” Senate Bill 342 was passed by…Maggie Thurber -
- News
Ted Cruz: ‘I’m Not Trying to Play the Washington Rules, I’m Trying to Change the Rules’
Facing a series of tough questions from Fox News’ Bret Baier tonight, Sen. Ted Cruz defended his actions over the weekend to force a Senate vote to defund President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. “Every single Senate Democrat is now on record supporting the president’s unconstitutional amnesty,” says @SenTedCruz The rare weekend session drew complaints…Daily Signal Staff -
- News
Arizona County Weighs Hiring Ban on Smokers for Government Jobs
One Arizona county may be closing its doors on smokers today. Pima County, home of Tucson, is voting on a proposal that bans county offices from hiring smokers and hits current employees who smoke with a 30 percent increase in their health insurance premiums. One critic says it’s a “slippery slope” that could lead to hiring…Natalie Johnson -
- News
Gruber Model Errs in Colorado as Vermont Prepares to Rely on Data
Jonathan Gruber’s health-care forecasting is failing in Colorado as Vermont’s Gov. Peter Shumlin prepares to use the economist’s math for single-payer health care. As Vermonters anxiously await a Gruber-modeled financing plan for Green Mountain Care, modeling done for Colorado’s health exchange by Jonathan Gruber Associates has proven wildly erroneous. In 2011, following Colorado’s decision to…Bruce Parker -
- News
Six-Figure State Economic Deal May Net ‘One New Job’ for Virginia County
KING GEORGE, Va. — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe boasts that his administration has closed a record 228 economic-development deals since the Democrat took office last January. But instead of generating new jobs, an agreement the governor announced last week will merely shift workers between two Virginia counties and pit one state-subsidized company against another. Commercial Metals Co….Kenric Ward -
- Opinion
Cartoon: Tree Trimming…Washington Style
The spending bill, released and passed this week, wasn't exactly the greatest holiday gift for taxpayers … From Heritage budget expert Romina Boccia's column earlier this week: At more than 1,600 pages, Congress’s $1.1 trillion behemoth spending bill funding almost all government agencies through September 2015 has arrived. … The “CRomnibus” spending bill represents a strange…Glenn Foden -
- Opinion
Before Hiking Gas Taxes, Michigan Needs to Spend Money for Roads More Wisely.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) is leading an effort to gradually double the state’s 19-cent per gallon gas tax. Doing so would boost the state’s transportation coffers by over $1 billion new tax dollars. But Snyder isn’t sure that’s enough, saying, “The money I’m talking about is to get us to fair to good roads….Joel Griffith -
- News
Blowback! Minnesota Wind Developer Takes on Opponents’ ‘Vendetta’
CORNISH TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Developers of a proposed 10-turbine wind farm that has come under fire from dozens of residents have denied alleged permit violations and reaffirmed plans to proceed with the controversial project, newly filed documents with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission reveal. Indiana-based WESCO Wind blamed construction delays on the project, which has been…Tom Steward -
- News
Virginia Lawmakers Consider Enshrining Privacy Protections in State Constitution
With technology outpacing privacy laws, Virginia lawmakers are trying to plan for the unexpected. Democratic state Sen. Chap Petersen of Fairfax and Republican state Del. Richard Anderson of Woodbridge are looking to prohibit state agencies and law enforcement from using any technology — think automatic license plate readers, call databases and drones — to passively…Kathryn Watson -
- News
Satanic Temple Display Approved for the Florida Capitol’s Holiday Decorations
Visitors to the Florida Capitol building this holiday season will be treated to a festive display of… a Satanic Temple. The Florida Department of Management Services recently approved an application for a holiday display from the Satanic Temple despite rejecting the same group’s “grossly offensive” display last year, according to the Florida Times-Union. The temple’s…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Virginia Farmer Hopes to Get Conservation Group Off Her Back
Virginia farmer Martha Boneta’s desire to have an environmental conservation group replaced as overseer of her property has moved a step closer to reality. Officials of the Piedmont Environmental Council have agreed to a meeting Friday to talk about ending a bitter standoff with Boneta by handing off enforcement duties for a conservation easement on…Kevin Mooney -
- News
Lieutenant Governor: Let’s Scrap and Replace Common Core in Mississippi
Common Core in Mississippi might be on the chopping block if Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has his way. Reeves said this week he supports scrapping Common Core and replacing it with another curriculum. The Republican said he wants to form a task force of parents, teachers and business leaders to investigate a new curriculum to replace Common…Steve Wilson -
- Opinion
U.S. Should Support NATO Membership for Georgia
On November 15, a crowd of 30,000 Georgian protestors took to the streets of Tbilisi to protest Russian policies in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2008, Russia invaded and occupied these regions, which account for about 20 percent of Georgia’s territory. Russia is one of only four nations that recognize the “sovereignty” of these regions….Dorin Methfessel -
- News
Vermont Lawmakers Question Credibility of Health Care Plan Relying on Gruber Research
Vermont lawmakers say they’re skeptical of Gov. Peter Shumlin’s forthcoming single-payer financing plan because it relies on economic modeling provided by Jonathan Gruber. As Shumlin gets ready to present a health-care financing plan to the legislature in January, key lawmakers who will decide its fate are saying Gruber’s explosive video confessions severely damage the proposal….Bruce Parker -
- News
Proposed Minnesota Policy Would Allow Student Athletes to Choose Teams Based on ‘Gender Identity’
Minnesota high schools may soon be affected by a proposed policy that would allow students to participate in sports based on their gender identity rather than their biological sex. On Dec. 4, the board of directors of the Minnesota State High School League will vote on the policy. According to the draft of the policy,…Kate Scanlon -
- News
Tennessee Facing Fight Over Obamacare Medicaid Expansion
NASHVILLE—Tennessee Republicans, after having just increased majorities in the state’s General Assembly, likely will have to decide whether to expand Medicaid in the upcoming 2015 legislative session. That issue and others are expected to dominate the 2015 gathering, scheduled to begin in January. State Senate Democratic Caucus spokesman Matt Anderson said last week that, although in…Chris Butler -
- News
How Much Will Obama’s Immigration Order Cost Florida Taxpayers?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida hasd the highest increase in illegal immigration of any state from 2009 to 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. By nature of avoiding detection, exact figures are hard to come by. But using community survey data, Pew’s Hispanic Trends Project estimates about 925,000 unauthorized immigrants now live in the Sunshine State, or…William Patrick -
- News
Virginia Woman Admits to $7.2 Million Child-Credit Tax Scam
More than a year after it was reported the IRS sent thousands of refunds to the tiny town of Parksley, Va., a woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud. Linda Avila admitted to obtaining more than $7.2 million in refunds by exploiting the federal government’s child tax credit program. Avila filed more than…Kenric Ward