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
Q&A: Texas Commissioner Explains How the Lone Star State Became ‘Ground Zero’ for Border Crisis
More than three years ago, Todd Staples, Texas commissioner of agriculture, officially put his stamp on an issue seemingly unrelated to agriculture: illegal immigration. After rural landowners reached out to him over the years, sharing stories of how illegal immigrants — specifically, drug cartels and other criminals — trespass farms and ranches, Staples spearheaded the… -
news
From Miami to Minnesota, Protests Call Attention to Border Crisis
Along East 7th Street in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn., more signs are in Spanish than English, advertising everything from used cars to groceries. That backdrop certainly made Larry Dalin’s sign stand out. Holding a placard that read, “In Mexico, illegals are jailed,” Dalin was a lone sentry outside the Mexican Consulate… -
news
Oklahoma Man Struggles to Cancel Health Plan for Three Months Due to Obamacare Delay
David Emanuel wanted to cancel his private insurance plan with BlueCross BlueShield after he became eligible for Medicare, but was told nothing could be done until HealthCare.gov consented to the change. The 65-year-old Oklahoma man spent three months entangled in bureaucracy. He shared his story with KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Okla., which was picked up by the Washington… -
news
EPA’s Restrictions on Alaska Mine Spark Charges of Executive Overreach
Even though the Environmental Protection Agency appears to be backing off its push to preemptively kill a proposed copper and gold mine in Alaska’s bush country, the agency is pitching an array of conditions that could stifle the project. A recently proposed list of restrictions, whose public comment period runs until Sept. 19, could severely… -
news
Border Crossings Stop After Texas Man Takes Security Into His Own Hands
City of Hidalgo, Texas—Othal E. Brand Jr. is a man in control, and as such, when drug cartels began exploiting the stretch of river at the water pump station he runs, he built a Border Patrol-friendly boat ramp, watchtower and helicopter pad to beef security there. In the Rio Grande Valley, Brand wields more power… -
opinion
Texas Sending National Guard to Border Is Good First Step, But a Long-Term Solution Still Needed
Gov. Rick Perry, R-Tex., will send around 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas border under his gubernatorial authorities to help the Texas Department of Public Safety deal with the illegal immigration crisis. Before anyone screams that this is unprecedented or the radical militarization of the border, be assured it is not. In 2006–2008, all four… -
news
Pro-Life Group Attacked in Ohio Says Assaults Increasing
>>> This video contain graphic language and images. There has been a rise in attacks on pro-lifers, according to an activist group. Seth Drayer, Director of Training for pro-life group Created Equal, views the attacks as a sign of the movement’s success. Drayer told The Daily Signal that these incidents represent “a desperate attempt” at… -
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People Will Abuse Powdered Alcohol, Ohio Lawmakers Say
We have powdered coffees, powdered juices, powdered soups, powdered eggs, powdered milk. Why not powdered alcohol? After all, it’s light, portable and convenient. But we’ll abuse it, two Ohio lawmakers say. Reps. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown, and Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, introduced House Bill 594 to prohibit the sale of powdered or crystalline alcohol in Ohio. Alaska… -
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Brooks County, Texas: Ranchers Help Secure Border-Crossers Who Skirt Checkpoint
FALFURRIAS, Texas — Far from the crisis along the border with Mexico in the Rio Grande Valley, the checkpoint here exists to deter those who made it this far but want to get away. To an American, the three-lane checkpoint some 70 miles from the border seems far from threatening. A Border Patrol agent asks if… -
news
Former New York Times Top Editor Criticizes White House on Transparency
Former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson said in an interview Wednesday that the Obama White House is far from transparent with reporters. A long time veteran of presidential politics, Abramson scoffed at Obama’s continued claim of transparency in light of “eight criminal leak investigations.” -
opinion
Hundreds of Undocumented Children Could Be Coming to Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Hundreds of undocumented children may be headed from the Mexican border to Wisconsin. The federal government has asked officials in the Madison and Milwaukee areas to look for potential sites to house some of the children now flooding into the country from Central America through Mexico. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin told Wisconsin… -
opinion
Joe Gibbs’ Organization Housing Undocumented Children in Virginia
It was only a matter of time before some of the thousands of undocumented children flooding the United States border reached Virginia. But the organization that is housing those children was founded by a man familiar to virtually everyone in the Washington, D.C., area. Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, R-Woodbridge, confirmed… -
news
Proposal to Divide California into Six States Clears Hurdle to Qualify for 2016 Ballot
Californians are one step closer to casting votes in November to decide whether the state will remain as is or be broken into six separate states. The “Six Californias” campaign announced yesterday it submitted 1.3 million signatures to the state for a ballot initiative that would divide the Golden State into six separate states, pending… -
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This Is Exactly How Central Americans Illegally Cross the Mexico-Texas Border
“Welcome to America,” Border Patrol agent Albert Spratte says. As politicians in Washington debate how to best deal with the influx of illegal immigrants from Central America along the southwest border, smugglers continue to transport women, children, and entire families into the country. The Daily Signal went on a tour of the border near McAllen,… -
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Conservative Groups Respond to Liberal Criticism of Kansas Tax Cuts
Conservative groups came together for a conference call Thursday, arguing against left-leaning media claims that Kansas’ steep income tax reductions have contributed to the downfall of the state’s economy. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback slashed the income tax in 2012 in an effort to reverse the state’s 15 year trend of trailing national economic averages. Some… -
news
Welcome to Iowa: Group Hits Christie’s ‘Liberal’ Picks for Judges
As New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie prepares to travel to Iowa on Thursday to test the waters for a Republican presidential race, a conservative watchdog group is ready to call attention to his record of judicial appointments. Judicial Crisis Network, which promotes the rule of law and “a fair and impartial judiciary,” is beginning a… -
news
EPA Regs Likely to Kill 68-Year-Old Louisiana Peach Orchard
RUSTON, La. — Peach orchards at Mitcham Farms, near the north Louisiana city of Ruston, have survived winter freezes, droughts and dangerous hail storms. But they evidently will not survive the Environmental Protection Agency and its regulations. The family-owned business, established in 1946 and featured in tourism magazines, is Louisiana’s largest peach orchard,according to its… -
news
California Mayor Says There’s No End in Sight to Border Crisis, Concerned for ‘Safety of All’
As busloads of illegal immigrants arrive in the Southern California city of Murrieta, Mayor Alan Long spoke to Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly about the brewing border crisis. Long expressed his concern for the “safety of all”—locals and migrants alike—and the “inhumane” conditions for the illegal immigrants. -
opinion
Union Uses ‘Strong Armed Tactic’ to Bully Its Way into Tennessee Auto Plant
The United Auto Workers is threatening this week to form a “voluntary” union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. But earlier this year the workers at the VW plant rejected the union at the ballot box. Although the union says that participation would be voluntary, the real agenda here is clear and dangerous: to undo… -
news
Volkswagen Allows Union at Tennessee Plant Despite Rejection by Autoworkers
The United Auto Workers will move forward with plans to form a local union at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. UAW’s announcement comes months after the union failed to gain enough support to unionize employees at the VW plant. In February, UAW lost a representation election at the VW Chattanooga plant by 86 votes….