State politics Subcribe to State politics |
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By Jason Hoppin, St. Paul Pioneer Press
After seven years of budget battles, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday proposed a constitutional amendment to limit state spending. (Also see: MN: Short of cash, Minn. delays business tax refunds)
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By Betsy Z. Russell, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)
Fired Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe says she was forced out after refusing to send unnecessary state work and money to politically connected companies.
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AK: Obama will visit Anchorage next week
By Erika Bolstad, Anchorage Daily News
WASHINGTON - President Obama will make his first-ever visit to Alaska next week, on Veterans Day, as part of a multi-day journey to Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore.
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AR: Lincoln approval rate down, UA poll finds
By Seth Blomeley, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock)
The public approval rating for U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., fell by double digits this year, according to a poll released Thursday by the University of Arkansas.
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AR: Supreme Court suspends east Arkansas judge
By Staff Reports, Arkansas News Bureau
The state Supreme Court on Thursday suspended Phillips County Circuit Court Judge L.T. Simes from the bench law through the end of his term next year over judicial misconduct accusations.
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CT: Tom Swan not yet endorsing Ned Lamont for governor
By Christopher Keating, The Hartford Courant
Tom Swan was the high-profile, 24-7 campaign manager for Democrat Ned Lamont's campaign in 2006 that sent shock waves across the country when Lamont upset U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman in the Democratic primary.
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DE: Report on casinos pushed to late Dec.
By Jeff Montgomery, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
A panel examining prospects for more casinos in Delaware now hopes for an independent report on the issue by the end of December, further pushing back its deadline for a recommendation to lawmakers.
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DE: New push for LNG plant near Claymont
By Jeff Montgomery, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
An Amerada Hess Corp. joint venture plans a new attempt to develop a liquefied natural gas terminal along the Delaware River opposite Claymont, after acquiring a BP property long bogged down by a state boundary dispute.
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FL: House inquiry into Sansom to continue
By Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee Democrat
A special House committee voted unanimously this morning to continue with its investigation of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, while proceeding carefully to protect his constitutional rights to a fair trial.
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GA: Virtual schools chart new course
By D. Aileen Dodd, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Representatives of five would-be virtual charter schools will file into the administrative towers of the Georgia Department of Education today to pitch their brand of public education, which lets students study at home computers in their pajamas.
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IL: Candidates for GOP governor nomination hold debate
By Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune
The seven men vying for the Republican nomination for governor sought to burnish their credentials as conservatives Thursday and bashed the state's unfettered one-party Democratic leadership as they tried to regain the trust of scandal-weary voters.
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KS: Budget estimate declines by 4.2%
By Scott Rothschild, The Lawrence Journal-World
State fiscal experts Thursday said the Kansas economy remains stuck in recession, and that means a further drop in tax revenues and more budget cuts.
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LA: Finance report shows two fund BR Tea Party
By Greg Garland, The Advocate (Baton Rouge)
Baton Rouge Tea Party LLC reported collecting $10,266 in contributions between Oct. 6 and Oct. 23 for its campaign to defeat a $901 million tax package on the Nov. 14 ballot, according to campaign-finance reports released Thursday.
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MA: Death penalty foes rip Coakley for signing brief
By Matt Viser, The Boston Globe
Attorney General Martha Coakley, who says she is firmly against capital punishment, has drawn the ire of some death penalty opponents by urging the US Supreme Court to limit federal review of state court decisions, which opponents say could make it harder for defendants on death row to challenge their sentences.
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MA: Outrage over terror speaker
By Michele McPhee, Boston Herald
Gov. Deval Patrick pulled the plug on a planned UMass speech by a convicted terrorist yesterday after a plea delivered by the Herald from the outraged widow of a gunned-down state trooper -- angering cops who protested the event for weeks.
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MD: States urge stiffer anti-pollution laws
By James B. Hale, The Sun (Baltimore)
Twelve states, including Maryland, and the District of Columbia urged the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday to adopt more rigorous national policies so they can meet federal air pollution reduction requirements for the region.
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MD: Young people at center of politics, Steele says
By Jacques Kelly, The Sun (Baltimore)
BALTIMORE -- The Republican National Committee chairman told a Johns Hopkins University student audience Thursday night that they were "not the future" of politics, but were in fact at the center of it today.
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MD: Waiting to learn who pays Dixon's legal bills
By Julie Bykowicz, The Sun (Baltimore)
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's legal bills, racked up during a years-long corruption probe that has led her to enlist seven criminal defense attorneys for a theft trial next week, could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, legal observers say.
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MD: Bay goals downgraded
By Pamela Wood, The Capital (Annapolis)
The federal government is putting the Chesapeake Bay on a pollution diet, but officials say it can be a little less strict than in the past.
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ME: Baldacci and AG want changes to marijuana law
By Mal Leary, Bangor Daily News
The law expanding access to marijuana for medical reasons passed by voters Tuesday needs changes to make it workable, said Maine Gov. John Baldacci and Attorney General Janet Mills. Supporters don't disagree.
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ME: Initiative to protect working lands
By Kevin Miller, Bangor Daily News
A task force representing major stakeholders in Maine's North Woods, from large landowners and loggers to environmental groups, is proposing a new, collaborative initiative aimed at protecting large swaths of working forest in the state.
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ME: H1N1 hits all Maine counties with vaccine well short of need
By The Associated Press, Bangor Daily News
A brief debate broke out among legislative leaders over a proposed bill declaring that vaccinations cannot be mandatory, on the same day that Maine's public health director announced that swine flu has been confirmed in all 16 of the state's counties.
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MI: GOP chief -- Senate win shows Dems out of favor
By Dawson Bell, Detroit Free Press
Michigan Republicans said Wednesday they had a good candidate, worked hard and devoted lots of resources to winning back a state Senate seat in Jackson and Calhoun counties that had been held for the last seven years by a Democrat.
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MN: Rybak files to run for governor
By The Associated Press, St. Paul Pioneer Press
Democrat R.T. Rybak is telling supporters he's running for governor, two days after Minneapolis voters re-elected him to a third term as mayor.
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MS: Slow recovery darkens budget outlook
By Bobby Harrison, The Daily Journal (Tupelo)
State economist Phil Pepper told legislative leaders and Gov. Haley Barbour on Thursday not to expect much improvement in Mississippi's economy until the second half of next year.
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NC: Rep. Pricey Harrison wants Blue Cross probe
By Mark Binker, The News & Record (Greensboro)
Rep. Pricey Harrison has asked the state's attorney general and Department of Insurance to investigate Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina's use of campaign-style tactics aimed at defeating controversial federal health insurance legislation.
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NC: Liberals may gain in Rand's departure
By Mark Johnson, The News & Observer (Raleigh)
State Sen. Tony Rand had several important roles at the legislature - majority leader, chairman of the rules committee that determines when and how legislation will be considered, member of the committee that writes the state budget.
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NC: State sends 16 to Calif. training
By Lynn Bonner, The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The state is using $140,000 in federal stimulus money to send 16 employees to child development workshops in San Diego while North Carolina has thousands of struggling families seeking subsidized care for their children.
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NC: Nesbitt takes aim at Senate leadership
By Jordan Schrader, Asheville Citizen-Times
Sen. Martin Nesbitt did not return phone calls Wednesday or Thursday, but he was on the phone to tell his fellow Senate Democrats who will pick a majority leader, the No. 2 spot behind Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, he wants the job.
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NC: Ethics panel clears NC Rep. Shuler in TVA probe
By Mike Baker, The Associated Press
Congressional ethics investigators have concluded that North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler did not act inappropriately while a residential development that he was involved in sought lake-access rights from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
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NE: Lincoln senator recommends furloughs, not layoffs for workers
By JoAnne Young, Lincoln Journal Star
Senators introduced five bills in special session Thursday, aimed at saving money for the state or saving money for a particular program. Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery introduced a resolution (LR4) that would have agencies use furloughs rather than layoffs of state workers if needed to meet across-the-board budget cuts.
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NJ: Corzine accomplishments tempered by tough times
By Adrienne Lu, The Philadelphia Inquirer
As Gov. Corzine heads into what are likely to be the final weeks of his political life, following the failure of his reelection bid on Tuesday, it's unclear whether the bearded Midwestern native with the down-to-earth demeanor and the sweater vests will be remembered more for his legislative accomplishments or for the car wreck that nearly took his life in 2007.
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NJ: Corzine orders $400M in cuts to balance budget
By John Reitmeyer, The Record of Bergen County
Governor Corzine is preparing $400 million in budget cuts and wants legislators to shelve any new spending measures during their upcoming lame duck session, all to offset revenue losses blamed on the poor economy.
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NY: Senate Democrats rebuff governor on special session
By Tom Precious, The Buffalo News
Reducing the state's soaring deficit, legalizing gay marriage, slowing property tax growth and toughening drunk driving laws are among the items on the agenda for a special session of the Legislature that Gov. David A. Paterson has scheduled for Tuesday.
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NY: Marriage for gays on agenda in New York
By Danny Hakim, The New York Times
Gov. David A. Paterson said Thursday that he would include gay marriage on the agenda of an extraordinary session he is calling for Tuesday, potentially setting up the first vote on the issue in the State Senate and a dramatic floor debate.
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NY: Third-term blues are job hazard in mayor's office and Albany
By Sam Roberts, The New York Times
Fiorello H. La Guardia, ill with cancer and already fitted for a uniform, craved a military commission that would get him out of New York. Robert F. Wagner's wife had just died and he was growing weary of juggling work and family. Edward I. Koch, tainted by a corruption scandal, contemplated suicide.
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NY: Wind law could benefit company
By Christine McConville, Boston Herald
Despite significant opposition in Western Massachusetts, state environmental affairs secretary Ian Bowles is pushing hard to get a controversial wind-turbine law passed before the legislative session ends on Nov. 18.
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NY: Gov blew it for Thompson -- labor big
By Fredric U. Dicker, New York Post
A union leader yesterday said Democratic Bill Thompson could have won Tuesday's surprisingly close mayoral election if Gov. Paterson had backed an aggressive attack on Mayor Bloomberg.
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NY: Wind-energy firm takes Yates County town to court
By Steve Orr, Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Angered by a Town Board vote in Italy, Yates County, to kill a turbine proposal, a wind-energy company is asking a judge to override the elected board members and allow the project to go forward.
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NY: Breslin: Open defense funds
By Rick Karlin, Times Union (Albany)
State Sen. Neil Breslin is proposing legislation that would unmask the names of people who give money to legal defense funds set up for lawmakers.
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NY: Did grants open doors?
By James M. Odato, Times Union (Albany)
Although lawyers representing former state Sen. Joseph L. Bruno insist he did not hand out improper favors to clients who invested pension funds with his employer, state records show Bruno arranged state grants for them.
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OH: Tea Party chief running for Pillich seat
By Staff Reports, The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mike Wilson, the organizer of the Cincinnati Tea Party protest movement, will launch a campaign today to unseat State Rep. Connie Pillich, D-Montgomery, in the 28th Ohio House District.
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OK: Obama promises U.S. tribal leaders he'll tackle issues
By Chris Casteel, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
WASHINGTON — Greeting the first American Indian conference to be sponsored by the White House in 15 years, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday he will work with them on problems that have plagued Indians for decades.
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OR: Oregon Latinos seek power in numbers
By Gosia Wozniacka, The Oregonian (Portland)
Like California's 30 years ago, Oregon's growing Latino population is reaching a tipping point: A critical mass of Latino professionals is starting to organize and influence state and local politics.
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OR: Gore to host fundraiser for Bradbury
By Harry Esteve, The Oregonian (Portland)
Bill Bradbury, Democratic candidate for governor, has scored the first big fund-raising coup of the race, booking former Vice President and Nobel prizewinner Al Gore for an event later this month.
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PA: Pa. Legislature's highest paid staffer resigns
By Mario F. Cattabiani, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Brett O. Feese, a former state lawmaker from the Williamsport area, retired this week as the top attorney for House Republicans -- a post that made him Harrisburg's highest-paid legislative aide.
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PA: LaGrotta claims innocence in scandal
By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two years after pleading guilty to crimes he now says he did not commit, former state Rep. Frank LaGrotta is looking for exoneration in the court of public opinion -- something he was unable to get in the court of law.
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PA: Grand jury may seek charges against Perzel
By Dennis B. Roddy and Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A statewide grand jury is considering recommending charges against former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, and a number of others in connection with millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded computer data that investigators believe was used for political campaigns.
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PA: Gubernatorial candidate Knox wants campaign limits
By Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Knox, who is expected to spend millions of his own money on the campaign, said Thursday he wants to limit what other people can spend on state campaigns as part of a wide-ranging reform agenda.
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RI: Governor vetoes saltwater fishing license
By Peter B. Lord, The Providence Journal
Governor Carcieri, reversing more than a year of work by his own staff and the state's largest recreational fishing organization, has vetoed a proposed $7 state license for saltwater fishing. He called it "excessively intrusive."
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SC: Gov. Mark Sanford gave up privacy, Supreme Court rules
By Tim Smith, The Greenville News
The South Carolina Supreme Court today denied a request by Gov. Mark Sanford to keep a report by the State Ethics Commission of its investigation of him secret, ruling that the governor completely waived his confidentiality in an August letter.
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SC: S.C. court: Sanford ethics probe is public
By Jim Davenport, The Associated Press, The Charlotte Observer
South Carolina's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an ethics investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford's travel must be made public, clearing the way for lawmakers considering impeachment to review a report on the probe.
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TN: Judge declines paper-ballot push
By Richard Locker, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis)
A Nashville judge Thursday turned down a motion to force state election officials to move faster toward installing paper-ballot voting systems across Tennessee in time for the 2010 general election as required by the legislature.
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TN: Bredesen calls biofuel criticism 'outrageous'
By Tom Humphrey, Knoxville News Sentinel
Gov. Phil Bredesen branded a legislative attack on the BioFuels Initiative he launched two years ago as "ridiculous" and "outrageous" Thursday and said it endangers an unannounced "very large investment in East Tennessee."
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UT: Commission wants ethics teeth and campaign caps
By Cathy Mckitrick, The Salt Lake Tribune
In its final work session, the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Democracy wrapped up almost a year's worth of deliberations with a few bold recommendations to advance to Gov. Gary Herbert, including one to put some teeth in existing campaign and lobbying laws.
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UT: GOP leaders OK contribution limits
By Bob Bernick Jr., The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
Moved in part by a tough citizen initiative petition on legislative ethics and campaign finance reform, some GOP legislative leaders have agreed to the adoption of campaign contribution limits for state candidates and officeholders.
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UT: State's top ed official addresses budget
By Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune
State Superintendent Larry Shumway urged lawmakers not to cut education dollars further and said he plans to take action to address inappropriate relationships between teachers and students as part of his first State of Education speech Thursday evening.
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VA: Court order issued to stop review of Beach absentee ballots
By Deirdre Fernandes, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The tight 21st District race took several dramatic turns Thursday, with a raucous rally outside the voter registrar's office, allegations of vote-count irregularities and finally a court order to temporarily stop a review of absentee ballots.
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VA: Kaine headed for U. of Richmond after term ends
By Julian Walker, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will resume a teaching career when his term expires in January, taking a part-time, nontenured position at the University of Richmond as an instructor in its law and leadership schools, officials announced Thursday.
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VA: Democrats doubt depths of Amiral's private pockets
By Harry Minium, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)
NORFOLK, Va. -- Democrats are questioning fundraising reports filed by unsuccessful House of Delegates candidate John Amiral, saying they don't believe the Republican had the money to loan his campaign more than $100,000.
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VA: GOP House gains intensify competition in N.Virginia
By Derek Kravitz, The Washington Post
Fresh from an election in which Republicans knocked off several entrenched Democrats in the Virginia House of Delegates, the state's GOP is poised to usher in a new era of tougher two-party politics in Northern Virginia, political observers say.
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VT: No charges for Flanagan in gym incident
By Sam Hemingway, Burlington Free Press
State Sen. Edward Flanagan will not be charged criminally for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct at a Burlington health club in August, a prosecutor who reviewed the case said Thursday.
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VT: Vermont panel rejects college merger
By The Associated Press, Burlington Free Press
A panel considering the governor's proposal to consolidate the University of Vermont with the five state colleges has recommended against merging the institutions.
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WA: Ref. 71 lead appears insurmountable
By Janet I. Tu, The Seattle Times
After months of contentious battling over Referendum 71, Washington voters have approved the measure, keeping a law that expands state benefits for registered same-sex and some senior domestic partners. The vote tally to approve appears insurmountable.
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WA: The End of Eymanism?
By Joel Connelly, seattlepi.com
As the state's vote count from Tuesday's election goes on - and on - returns show that reliable, longtime bastions of support are "Going South" on professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman.
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