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Archive of Politics on Thursday May 08, 2008
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
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Candidates look to final five states and Puerto Rico for victory
Even before polls closed in Indiana and North Carolina, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were shifting their attention to the five states and one territory that have yet to vote. Read More
Perata pulls plug on bid to recall Denham
Citing the prospects of another lengthy state budget stalemate, state Senate leader Don Perata on Wednesday dropped his recall campaign of Sen. Jeff Denham ? a development that surprised even Denham. Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Palin paves way for pay boost
Long-awaited pay raises may be on the way for state legislators, after Gov. Palin quietly signed the bill last week that would make them possible. Read More
With billions of dollars at stake, TransCanada pitches pipeline
Gov. Sarah Palin's attempt to wrest control of development of Alaska's vast natural gas reserves away from the world's big petroleum companies may hinge on a medium-sized Canadian pipeline company. Read More
Proposal to cut alien benefits gets go-ahead
Backers of a proposed initiative aimed at cutting state benefits to illegal aliens are in a hurry to round up thousands of petition signatures after Attorney General Dustin McDaniel approved the proposal's ballot wording Wednesday. Read More
Legislators hear benefits of statewide trauma system
A statewide trauma system would save the lives of 200 to 600 Arkansans who die each year because they can't get needed emergency care fast enough, health officials told legislators Wednesday. Read More
Beebe -- Ark. party leader right to urge stop to GOP help
Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday that he supports the state Democratic Party chairman sending a letter admonishing lawmakers in his party to avoid supporting Republican lawmakers in campaigns. Read More
Ark. 211 service helps get callers to social services
An operator handling the first call for the Arkansas' new 211 service heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line: Gov. Mike Beebe. Read More
Ark. first lady urges better mental health care for children
Ginger Beebe doesn't like public speaking but will put aside her nervousness to speak on behalf of children with mental-health problems. Read More
Ark. governor, congressional delegation oppose gas-tax holiday
A summerlong suspension of the federal gas tax may be the brainchild of former Arkansas first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, but the idea is resoundingly opposed by the state's governor and congressional delegation. Read More
Ark. surplus to grow to $164M, officials tell lawmakers
Arkansas' accumulated surplus could grow to more than $164 million by July 1, despite calls for budget cuts in the coming fiscal year, state finance officials told a legislative panel Wednesday. Read More
Beeb -- Democratic leader right to rebuke members who help GOP candidates
Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he supports state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney in his effort to discourage elected Democrats from supporting Republican candidates. Read More
Rice hulls touted as fuel source as soy prices rise
Arkansas is still working to develop its place in the alternative fuels market, but Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell said Wednesday the state is well-positioned to use rice husks to generate ethanol. Read More
Beebe makes call to kick off new 211 system
Gov. Mike Beebe made a call to Arkansas' new 211 system during a news conference Wednesday marking the official launch of the program, which seeks to connect Arkansans with community services and volunteer opportunities. Read More
Democrats, Green Party seeking opponent for Dobbins
Several potential write-in candidates have surfaced to possibly challenge a former state House member seeking to return after resigning his seat amid allegations he fondled a teenage girl, the Democratic Party of Arkansas said Wednesday. Read More
McDaniel approves wording of illegal immigration measure
After rejecting two previous versions, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Wednesday approved the name and ballot title of a proposed ballot initiative that would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive public benefits in Arkansas. Read More
Governor calls for boost of 1 cent in state sales tax
Gov. Janet Napolitano is defending a proposal to hike the state sales tax to among the highest in the nation to fund transit improvements. Read More
New law will pile on charges for sex predators on Internet
A new law sponsored by a Chandler legislator will make punishments harsher for Internet sex predators. Read More
California deficit still anyone's guess
A quick pop quiz on state politics: How big is California's budget deficit? Is it: a) $14.5 billion, b) $8 billion, c) $10 billion, or d) $20 billion? The answer is, there is no correct answer. Read More
Perata drops bid to recall GOP legislator Denham
After millions of dollars raised and a long trail of acrimonious campaigning, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said Wednesday he is dropping his controversial bid to recall state Sen. Jeff Denham, saying he worried it would get in the way of fixing the state's precarious fiscal condition. Read More
Calif. appeals court rules in domestic partners case
SANTA ANA, Calif. ? People who mistakenly believe they are registered as domestic partners in California have the same rights as those who fulfilled terms of the state's Domestic Partner Act, an appeals court ruled. Read More
Perata ends campaign to recall GOP senator
In an abrupt political reversal, State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata ends his campaign to recall Sen. Jeff Denha, a Merced Republican. Read More
Democratic leaders push uncommitted superdelegates
WASHINGTON ? The fight for the 268 uncommitted Democratic Party superdelegates shifted into a higher gear Wednesday, but few of the party insiders were ready to pledge their allegiance to Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton. Read More
Critics call crime initiative a ploy to lure 'ultraconservatives' to polls
They turned up the heat on the politics of crime Wednesday over an initiative likely to appear on the November ballot aimed at gangs and guns. Read More
$271 million for research on stem cells in California
LOS ANGELES - California has awarded $271 million in grants to build 12 stem cell research centers in the state, even as one of the political rationales for the building program might soon disappear. Read More
Ritter: GOP stalled road efforts
Gov. Bill Ritter said Wednesday that concern over Democratic lawmakers' re-election chances was partly to blame for legislative failure to approve proposals to fix Colorado roads and bridges. Read More
Time runs out on sick day legislation
The House of Representatives appeared to have scuttled an effort to require businesses to provide paid sick days to all their workers, refusing to call the bill for a vote as time ran out on the legislative session Wednesday night. Read More
Legislature convenes special session on conveyance tax
Not having to pass a budget didn't save state legislators from having to convene a special session. Read More
Bill would end ban of paid firefighters volunteering
The General Assembly has passed bill that stops cities and towns from banning their paid firefighters from serving as volunteer firefighters in their home towns. Read More
Ethics reform bill apparently scuttled
An increasingly personal dispute between House and Senate lawmakers imperiled an ethics reform bill late Wednesday night, as the legislature's midnight deadline to adjourn approached. Read More
Fate of pension revocation bill in doubt
The fate of a key ethics reform bill, which revokes the pensions of corrupt officials and public employees, remained in doubt late Wednesday as the legislative session neared adjournment. Read More
Bill to reform magistrate appointments dies
A legislative controversy - which ignited after Gov. M. Jodi Rell's appointment early this year of a Republican activist from Old Lyme as a $121,615-a-year family support magistrate - died quietly Wednesday when the House failed to take up a Senate-approved reform bill. Read More
Rell cool to expansion of state worker insurance pool
Gov. M. Jodi Rell expressed strong reservations Wednesday about a Democratic bill that would permit municipalities, nonprofits and small businesses to join the state employee health insurance pool. Read More
Mortgage relief bill highlights final day of legislative session
Hours before the legislature's 2008 session ended, the state Senate unanimously passed a comprehensive mortgage-relief bill that would help thousands of subprime mortgage holders threatened with foreclosure. Read More
Counting Florida's votes won't close Clinton-Obama gap
Every time Hillary Clinton is on the ropes -- as she was Wednesday after lackluster showings in Indiana and North Carolina -- her fallback is always the same: Count Florida's votes. But even her campaign acknowledges that the state can't deliver her the Democratic nomination. Read More
Michigan ruling stirs same-sex advocates in Florida
A Michigan Supreme Court ruling -- that the state's law banning gay marriage also prohibits same-sex benefits offered to government employees -- is energizing opponents of a similar amendment on Florida's November ballot. Read More
Florida to pay $11.5 million for cutting citrus trees
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A south Florida jury has ordered the State of Florida to pay $11.5 million as compensation to 58,225 residents of Broward County after the state cut down all the citrus trees in their yards in a disease-prevention effort. Read More
Perdue OKs health bills
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday signed a pair of bills aimed at making high-deductible health insurance plans more accessible to Georgians. Read More
Perdue OKs bill to expand use
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation gained the power to compare crime suspects' DNA samples with a database of genetic evidence collected from 150,000 offenders and nearly 7,000 unsolved cases, under legislation Gov. Sonny Perdue signed Wednesday. Read More
Perdue signs high-deductible insurance plan bill
Insurance companies gained millions of reasons on Wednesday to offer high-deductible health insurance plans as Gov. Sonny Perdue signed legislation aimed at making the plans more affordable and more widely available. Read More
Foes of Web driving class get Scooby Doo certified
Scooby Doo can get behind the wheel again in Florida. Not in real life, of course. The talking dog doesn't exist. But opponents of a bill to let Georgia's habitual traffic violators take court-ordered driving classes online signed the cartoon canine up for an Internet course in Florida, which has a similar law. Read More
Lt. governor says he will allow Senate vote on Sunday sales
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle now says he's willing to let the state Senate act on a referendum that would allow voters to decide whether stores may sell alcohol on Sunday. Read More
New Ga. law bans sale of 'pot candy' to minors
Selling marijuana-flavored candy to children will net the seller a $500 fine under a ban that may be the first of its kind in the nation. Read More
Driving without license felony under House bill
Driving without a license could become a felony under a bill that passed the Georgia House on Thursday. Read More
Lingle?s housing measures collapse
Gov. Linda Lingle lost a series of important housing bills when the state Legislature ended last week. Read More
Two panels to review ConCon cost factors
Gov. Linda Lingle's announcement of a task force to determine the cost of convening a constitutional convention means the state's executive and legislative branches plan to study the same issue in different ways. Read More
Hawaii taps tourism emergency fund
The Hawaii Tourism Authority will spend $3 million from an emergency fund to convince North American travelers that Hawaii still offers a good value for a vacation. Read More
Lingle and Kim wage war of words over Liu
Decrying a "major waste of time and resources," Gov. Linda Lingle fired back at a state Senate investigative committee that contends one of her Cabinet members broke the law in awarding a contract to a company that was not the top-ranked bidder for a new investment fund. Read More
Fee for records may be reviewed
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal said Wednesday that the Legislature would take a look at a new policy initiated in state agencies by Gov. Chet Culver's office to charge more fees in connection with fulfilling open-records requests. Read More
Iowa leaders say don't blame ethanol for food costs
Rising food prices have emboldened critics of ethanol and provoked a firm pushback from Iowa leaders. Read More
Culver wants dropout rates reduced
Iowa must take more steps to reduce the number of high school dropouts, specifically among minority students, Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday. Read More
Proposal eases property taxes by adding fees
Iowa's city and county governments would have more ability to charge special taxes or fees, under one idea for property tax relief that top legislative leaders said will be reviewed next year. Read More
Hispanics fear immigration raid in Iowa
WATERLOO, Iowa ? The presence of immigration officials at National Cattle Congress in Waterloo has stoked fears of an impending raid and caused some in the Hispanic community to avoid workplaces and public areas. Read More
Culver -- 'Community effort' needed to keep young people in school
Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday that his policies have begun to remedy some of the problems that lead to school dropouts, though he said the best approaches are customized to local problems and conducted by local leaders. Read More
Idaho superdelegate Roark uncommitted
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman and presidential superdelegate Keith Roark said Wednesday he still hasn't backed a presidential candidate, but said Sen. Barack Obama's 14-point victory in the North Carolina primary Tuesday helped address his concerns. Read More
Idaho Dems miffed at Bill Clinton's comments
Idaho Democrats sounded off Wednesday against former President Bill Clinton and his campaign comments about Gem State politics. Read More
Only one superdelegate in Idaho is undecided
R. Keith Roark still isn't picking sides, but an overwhelming win by Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday night in the North Carolina Democratic primary and a closer-than-expected showing in Indiana erased some doubts for Idaho's one uncommitted Democratic superdelegate. Read More
Feds pledge $1.3 billion for new FutureGen concept
The federal government Wednesday announced plans to offer companies $1.3 billion toward building FutureGen-style power plants across the country, taking another step away from building a single, massive project in Mattoon. Read More
Senate Democrats try to take heat off Halvorson
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) was removed as chairperson of the powerful rules committee Wednesday by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) after she clashed with Republicans over her handling of a bill that could have allowed voters to create a recall provision for elected officials. Read More
Ill. voters to vote on 'Con-Con'
Illinois voters in November will get to decide whether to have a constitutional convention and revamp the state's governing document. Read More
Fat tax break for felon
Stuart P. Levine, the star prosecution witness in Tony Rezko's corruption trial, might be an admitted drug user and felon. But he's savvy when it comes to his property taxes. Read More
Bill allowing Rockford schools to share data gets 1st OK
Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey has said for months that state law should be changed to require the Rockford School District to share names and personal information about students suspected of being truants. Read More
Construction costs a political hang-up
Around the Capitol, the perception is that "everyone" wants new roads, bridges and schools. The problem is no one can agree on how to pay for them. Read More
Prison closing plan gets support
A plan aimed at stopping Gov. Rod Blagojevich from closing Pontiac Correctional Center has gained the support of a top Senate Democrat. Read More
Jacobs supports pay hike bill in Illinois
While Quad-City members of the Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject boosting salaries for state lawmakers by nearly 12 percent, state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, supports getting paid more money. Read More
Lawmaker warns construction funds are in danger
With time running short at the Capitol for a budget deal, one suburban lawmaker said talk of billions of dollars worth of state-sponsored construction may be headed to the political backburner. Read More
House votes down officials' pay hikes
The Illinois House voted Wednesday to reject pay increases of $7,000 next year, citing a lagging economy and litany of unfinished business at the Capitol. Read More
Illinois House votes to let campus cops carry guns
In an attempt to boost campus safety, the Illinois House voted Wednesday to let all university police officers carry guns while on duty. Read More
House passes measure to let police carry guns on college campuses
Police officers at Illinois universities, colleges and community colleges would be allowed to carry guns on campus, regardless of school policy, under a proposal the House of Representatives passed on Wednesday. Read More
Fairgrounds may need costly work
The Illinois State Fairgrounds could need millions of dollars in maintenance and capital improvements in the next few years, based on information turned over to Rep. Raymond Poe. Read More
State representatives reject recommendation for pay hike
Most members of the Illinois House of Representatives said Wednesday they and other top state officials shouldn?t receive pay hikes anytime soon, but their paychecks could be getting bigger in a few months anyway. Read More
Q5 lacks strategy on keeping IDOT jobs
A local economic-development campaign that has pledged to create or retain 4,500 Sangamon County jobs in five years had remained quiet on a plan to move 150 state jobs our of Springfield until Wednesday. Read More
Governor doesn't show for Holocaust observance
Gov. Rod Blagojevich was absent Wednesday for the 27th annual Days of Remembrance Holocaust Observance, which was held at the Old Capitol State Historic Site. Read More
Prison expert acquitted of scheming to bribe former Illinois corrections director
A federal judge on Wednesday acquitted Michael J. Mahoney, a nationally known corrections expert, on charges that he schemed to bribe Illinois' former top prison official to win lucrative state contracts for his lobbying clients. Read More
House votes down pay raise for lawmakers
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to reject a pay raise, meaning the Senate must do the same or the salary bumps take effect. Read More
Officials -- 19 schools get pass on driver's ed rule
Nineteen suburban high schools have gotten a reprieve from a controversial requirement to provide driver-education students with six hours of instructor-supervised street driving, according to state education officials. Read More
Wrigley Field's name would stay in state deal
Chicago Cubs fans who love Wrigley Field's name and historic character will find their passions protected by the state if it swings a deal to buy the North Side ballpark from Tribune Co., former Gov. James Thompson said Wednesday. Read More
Dressed down
There's already a laundry list of problems at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, but so far no one has seen the wardrobe of its leader as a problem. Read More
Daley asks where is the money for gov's anti-violence plan
Saying he's on -- a crusade to help Mayor Daley, -- Gov. Blagojevich staged a West Side rally Tuesday to unveil his $150 million plan to curb youth violence and "stop the killing." Read More
Raises for lawmakers now up to Jones
The fate of a salary increase for state lawmakers now lies in the hands of Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who last week said, "I need a pay raise." Read More
Randolph wins nail-biter
Lonnie Randolph struggled Wednesday to come up with a metaphor for the 222-vote victory he eked out a day earlier. Read More
Concession seals bid for top state job
Nearly 24 hours after the polls closed, Jim Schellinger conceded that he had lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Jill Long Thompson after a roller-coaster night of election returns. Read More
Chaos comes to Indiana?
Following Hillary Clinton's razor-thin victory in Indiana, some Republicans were claiming victory Wednesday for supporting her in large enough numbers to keep the Democratic slugfest going. Read More
Tuesday's primary turnout highest in 20 years
If Tuesday seemed like a busy day at your local polling place, there's a reason: Just over 39 percent of Indiana's registered voters cast ballots in the presidential primaries on Tuesday -- nearly double the turnout of recent comparable elections. Read More
She's ready for a fight
It took close to 24 hours after Indiana's polls closed for Jill Long Thompson to sew up her win as the Democratic nominee for governor, but she wasted no time Wednesday homing in on her next target: Mitch Daniels. Read More
Long Thompson readies for race against Gov. Daniels
Lake County played a huge role Tuesday in deciding -- and delaying -- the Democratic nomination for Indiana governor. Read More
Official -- Shortage of ballots unforeseeable
The high number of unexpected crossover voters -- Republicans voting on the Democratic ballot -- was the reason many polling places ran out of ballots during Tuesday's high-profile primary election, officials said. Read More
Late vote results criticized, explained
The nation watched Tuesday night as Lake County election officials held the fate of the Democratic presidential primary in their hands -- and held it, and held it and held it. Read More
Many Republicans crossed party line
In traditionally staunch Republican Hendricks County, results of Tuesday's party primary elections show voters favored local government in GOP hands though many crossed over to vote for a Democratic president. Read More
By the numbers -- how Clinton won
The race in Indiana between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama was decided by fewer than 15,000 votes, but the gap between them was much wider among some groups. Read More
Indianapolis Museum of Art, ACLU sue over new state pornography law
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, which sells art books containing images of nudes painted by the Old Masters, joined a civil rights group Wednesday in suing over a law that would require a business selling pornography to register with the state. Read More
Gubernatorial candidates? positions on key issues
With Hoosiers paying record prices at the gas pump and oil prices climbing, what would you do as governor to provide some short- and long-term relief? Read More
Lake County, Ind., to re-evaluate process after delayed primary results
Election-day shenanigans are nothing new in Lake County, Ind., where absentee ballots have been found stuffed in a car trunk, voters have been offered new sidewalks in exchange for allegiance and vote fraud investigations evoke thoughts of nearby Chicago. Read More
Bombardier-inspired tax-credit program headed to governor
Capping seven weeks of intense debate, Missouri legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a new tax-credit program that could bring an aircraft assembly plant to Kansas City. Read More
Final spending bill approved
Legislators approved a version of the year?s final spending bill Wednesday night preserving a project critics call "the road to nowhere." Read More
Governor fires back in dispute over e-mails
The governor began returning fire Wednesday as Missouri's e-mail wars heated up. Read More
Legislature concludes work
Consider these two scenarios for the fate of the coal bill: The third time is the charm. Or, three strikes and you are out. Supporters of a coal-fired power plant were banking on the former Wednesday. They are hopeful Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will sign off on their third bill of the session authorizing expansion of the power plant near Holcomb in southwest Kansas. Read More
Vehicle registration fees likely to go up
Fees to register a vehicle in the state would increase by $4 under a compromise bill sent to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Read More
Legislature signs off session with coal bill
The Kansas Legislature on Wednesday sent another coal-fired power plants bill to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius before ending the wrap-up session. Read More
House, Senate pass final spending bill
Kansas lawmakers cut corporate tax rates by $13.3 million next year before approving a hard-fought final spending bill and adjourning for the year late Wednesday. Read More
House roll call on bill allowing coal-fired plants
Here is the 76-48 vote Wednesday by which the House approved the latest bill allowing for the expansion of the Holcomb power plant and restricting the power of the secretary of health and environment. Supporters of the provisions tied them to economic development projects in other parts of the state. Read More
State's superdelegates urged to pick and repick
Kentucky's Democratic superdelegates are holding firm in their positions after the North Carolina and Indiana primary results, although one prominent supporter of U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said pressure is being applied to that group to end the campaign soon. Read More
House Whip Wilkey frustrated, to leave seat
House Democratic Whip Rob Wilkey plans to withdraw from the November election and give up his seat at the end of the year, his office confirmed yesterday. Read More
Public urged to report any suspected vote fraud May 20
State and federal officials warned yesterday that they will crack down on vote fraud when national attention focuses on Kentucky's primary election May 20. Read More
House OKs job training bill
The House easily approved Gov. Bobby Jindal's job training package Wednesday. Read More
Legislators eye Congress
Three prominent black state legislators say they are seriously considering a run for three different U.S. Congress seats this fall as independents instead of as Democrats. Read More
Panel backs poverty fight
The state could be required to reduce child poverty by 50 percent under a bill easily approved by a Senate committee Wednesday. Read More
Bill raising drivers' coverage advances
A bill that would require all drivers to have higher minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles was approved 6-2 Wednesday by the House Insurance Committee. Read More
Lawmakers -- Ethics laws too strict for volunteers
Unless the new disclosure laws are changed, few will want to serve on state boards and commissions, which some state senators said Wednesday would reduce public involvement in government operations, senators said Wednesday. Read More
Senate says abolish airport panel
A state panel that has spent 16 years trying to build a sprawling airport near Donaldsonville would be abolished under a bill that won Louisiana Senate approval 36-0 on Wednesday. Read More
Jindal sets tone for projected surplus
Gov. Bobby Jindal urged lawmakers Wednesday to resist embarking on a spending spree with any additional revenue gleaned for state government. Read More
Armor bill clears House
Bulletproof vests and other body armor would be off limits on school campuses under legislation that cleared a House committee Wednesday. Read More
Bill fines landlords of illegal immigrants
The House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice voted 7-4 Wednesday for a bill that would make it a crime to knowingly rent or lease a room, apartment or house to an illegal immigrant. Read More
Running for Office -- State House of Representatives District 18
OSCAR, La. - Pointe Coupee Parish businessman and School Board member Major Thibaut announced he will be a candidate for the District 18 seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Read More
House backs July 1 for resignation date
The House decided Wednesday to give people until July 1 to resign from elected jobs or state boards so they can avoid divulging their personal finances. Read More
Supplemental war spending bill includes levee project funding for New Orleans
WASHINGTON - Congress today will unfurl a massive emergency war spending bill expected to include $5.8 billion to secure levees in the New Orleans area. Read More
Restraint urged as windfall brews
In a pre-emptive strike at legislators contemplating major tax cuts or spending reductions, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday that any budget windfall recognized by state forecasters this week should be reserved as surplus or devoted to reducing the state's reliance on one-time money. Read More
Airport authority flies into the sunset
The 16-year-old Louisiana Airport Authority should fade into history by Jan. 1, since it hasn't done much to develop a cargo airport between New Orleans and Baton Rouge as intended, the Senate decided Wednesday. Read More
Momentum grows in House to support income tax repeal
The state House appears poised to endorse a bill repealing the state's personal income tax -- a move that would chagrin the Senate and place the bill on the governor's desk. Read More
New Road Home appeal process offers hope for those in limbo
Louis Generes III didn't accept the official calculation of his Road Home rebuilding grant, but he was willing to follow the program's rules for mounting a challenge. Read More
Legislation prohibits body armor in schools
Students in elementary and high schools should be prohibited from wearing bulletproof vests and other body armor, legislation approved by a House committee says. Read More
State's superdelegates stay on fence
Despite mounting pressure for Hillary Clinton to yield to front-runner Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, most of Louisiana's superdelegates remain uncommitted. Read More
Bill seeks to limit traffic cameras
Traffic cameras aimed at catching drivers who run red lights should not be aimed at the front of cars, says Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette. Read More
Bill would raise severance tax cap
Natural gas production from the rich Vernon Field in Jackson Parish generated more than $32 million in severance taxes last year, but Jackson Parish's local take was only $850,000. Read More
Peigneur bill going to Senate
A bill that would restrict expansion of natural gas storage caverns beneath Lake Peigneur will make it to the Louisiana Senate floor. Read More
Deval - Only Hill can decide her fate
Gov. Deval Patrick said yesterday that Hillary Clinton should not be pressured by outsiders yet to leave the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Read More
Patrick - Casinos plan could still fly
BROOKLINE, Mass. - Despite a recent high-profile defeat, legislation to legalize casino gambling in Massachusetts may yet come back, Governor Deval Patrick said yesterday. Read More
Broker to return $37m to towns
A major Wall Street firm agreed to return $37 million to 17 cities and towns in the state, as well as to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, after it allegedly misled them into buying investments they thought were as safe as cash. Read More
Lawmakers target $1b endowments
Massachusetts lawmakers desperate for additional revenue are eyeing the endowments of deep-pocketed private colleges to bolster the state's coffers by more than $1 billion a year, asserting that the schools' rising fortunes undercut their nonprofit status. Read More
O'Malley stresses need for slots
Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday that if a referendum on slot machine gambling fails in November, "it'll be back to the drawing board with a lot of unpopular choices, and I don't think any of us wants to go there." Read More
Delay in pollutant ban likely
Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday that he is inclined to sign legislation delaying a statewide ban on dishwasher detergent containing polluting phosphorus and that he still is weighing whether to veto a bill ensuring that fruity alcoholic drinks known as "alcopops" continue to be taxed and distributed the same way as beer. Read More
Relicensed station on 'radar screen,' O'Malley says
Gov. Martin O'Malley suggested yesterday that an automotive safety inspection station in Prince George's County will receive increased monitoring from the Maryland State Police as he defended his administration's decision to issue the facility a new license four years after its previous one was revoked for fraudulent practices. Read More
Miller might not be the retiring type
A year and a half after Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. announced that this term would be his last, the heavy betting among his colleagues is that the Annapolis titan will seek reelection in 2010. Read More
Deal to protect homeowners unravels
A compromise on legislation that would give owners of manufactured homes the first shot at buying their communities if they come up for sale is coming undone, with the homeowners and landowners at loggerheads once again. Read More
Mich. high court says gay partners can't get health benefits
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a 2004 ban against gay marriage also blocks governments and state universities from offering health insurance to the partners of gay workers. Read More
Bill lets public see who funds politicians' legal bills
A Michigan Senate panel has passed legislation requiring legal defense funds set up for politicians to report finances to the state. Read More
Report suggests ways to boost state tourism
A Republican legislative task force on Wednesday issued recommendations on ways the state can boost its tourism industry, including a dedicated source of promotional funding, regulatory changes and other measures. Read More
State foster care could get boost
Michigan's strained foster care system might get some support from the private sector under a plan soon to be introduced in the state Legislature. Read More
Senator -- 16-year-olds should vote in school elections
A constitutional amendment has been introduced to let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in Michigan school board elections. Read More
Dems press fight for Michigan delegates
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign Wednesday pinned its increasingly thin hopes for the Democratic nomination on winning full delegate slates from Michigan and Florida -- but the hard reality of delegate math makes victory nearly impossible. Read More
Error slows bid to oust mayor
The first request to Gov. Jennifer Granholm urging her to invoke rarely used powers and dump Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick seems destined for failure because the petitioner cited the wrong law in his complaint. Read More
Ban on same-sex health coverage upheld
Tom Patrick is worried about what will happen to the health care benefits he and his partner, Dennis, and their four children have as a result of a ruling Wednesday by the Michigan Supreme Court. Read More
Mich. Dems agree on a delegate split, need national party's OK
Michigan's lost Democratic delegation may be a step closer to this summer's convention in Denver. Read More
Is it time to scrap gas taxes in Michigan?
Michigan's state and local road agencies are dealing with funding problems that could reverse the progress we've made in improving our roadways over the last decade. Read More
RNC -- good for some businesses, but not all
As the Republican National Convention draws near, many Twin Cities business are sizing up how much of a sales kick they may get out of the convention this September. But being close to the convention is no guarantee of a boost in sales. Read More
State GOP has its own bookkeeping woes
The Minnesota Republican Party has scored a series of body blows against DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken over business irregularities that Franken attributes to his accountant?s mistakes. Read More
House offers tax break to attract airplane manufacturer
The Missouri House overwhelmingly passed a plan Wednesday that would give the world's third-largest airplane manufacturer a $240 million incentive to build and operate a facility in Kansas City. Read More
Governor turns table on critical representative -- asks for e-mails
Gov. Matt Blunt expanded his fight with Democrats over e-mail archives on Wednesday by requesting digital archives from Columbia Rep. Jeff Harris, a candidate for attorney general. Read More
Governor's office requests e-mail records from Harris
Gov. Matt Blunt's office has asked for years of documents and e-mails from Rep. Jeff Harris' office, a day after the Columbia Democrat criticized the Republican governor for his handling of electronic records. Read More
Mo. voters may decide on photo ID requirement
Voters could decide whether to enact a photo ID requirement for voting under a proposed constitutional amendment given first-round approval Wednesday by the Missouri House. Read More
Mo. lawmakers approve $22.4 billion budget
Missouri lawmakers completed passage of a $22.4 billion operating budget Wednesday that would increase state spending at a greater rate than its expected revenue growth. Read More
Bill approved to ban gassing of pets
Illinois House members voted Wednesday to ban the gassing of pets at animal shelters, with one lawmaker calling the practice disgusting. Read More
Blagojevich should 'clear the air' on Rezko, Quinn says
Gov. Rod Blagojevich should conduct a public question-and-answer session to "clear the air" and fully explain his relationship with indicted fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Wednesday. Read More
Canadian aircraft maker gets tax credit deal
Legislators gave final approval Wednesday to $240 million in tax credits intended for a Montreal-based airplane manufacturer that might build a plant in Kansas City. Read More
Recording - Blunt lawyer warned bosses about e-mail policy
After a lawyer working for Gov. Matt Blunt was fired last September, two different stories emerged. Read More
Special events today in honor of Truman's birthday; Missouri state offices closed
Harry Truman was born 124 years ago today. The former president's birthday is a state holiday in Missouri, and state offices will be closed. Many employees of Jackson County and the city of Independence also will have the day off. Read More
Voter ID measure moves ahead in Missouri
Missouri lawmakers gave preliminary approval to voter ID legislation on Wednesday, reopening a deeply partisan issue with scant time remaining in the session. Read More
Missouri Senate sends $22.4 billion spending plan to Blunt
The Missouri Senate on Wednesday put the final touches on a $22.4 billion spending plan that includes more funding for public schools, college scholarships, life sciences research and low-income health care. Read More
Senate defeats wind clause
WASHINGTON -- A Gulf Coast-backed effort to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program was soundly defeated Wednesday in the Senate amid concerns it would be too costly. Read More
Senate topples bid for wind insurance
WASHINGTON ? After a bitter debate over the possible cost to taxpayers, the Senate rejected an attempt Wednesday to add wind coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program. Read More
Congress to hear Miss. about use of housing funds for port
Mississippi?s decision to divert $600 million from a hurricane housing program to a port improvement project will be one of the key topics of a congressional hearing on the use of federal block grant funds. Read More
Barbour, McCoy tussle over ad contracts, employment agency
Gov. Haley Barbour says some lawmakers are being "foolish and wrongheaded" to tie the fate of an employment agency to a dispute over state advertising. Read More
Attorney general candidate John Parker -- State needs manpower, treatment for meth
Montana law enforcement needs more manpower in the battle against methamphetamine, and addicts need more treatment, says John Parker, a Democratic candidate for attorney general. Read More
Tester slams Real ID Act, executive reach
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jon Tester on Wednesday said recent government programs, including the Real ID Act, have violated privacy and built executive power to the extent that it threatens national security. Read More
Recycling up 6 percent
Local governments across the state recycled a record amount last year, according to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Read More
4 booted from House
At least four state House members apparently won't be back next year after losing primary elections Tuesday. Read More
Labor post might take runoff
Determining who is the Democratic nominee for state labor commissioner could take more than a month and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Read More
State budget surplus likely to top estimates
State lawmakers may have a fatter budget surplus than they originally thought, though it remains far less than in previous years. Read More
Primary prods a few superdelegates
Barack Obama's decisive victory Tuesday in North Carolina's Democratic presidential primary began to loosen the logjam of uncommitted Tar Heel superdelegates, with two supporting Obama and one committing to Hillary Rodham Clinton. Read More
AG -- Close colleges to illegal aliens
Public colleges in North Carolina should not admit illegal immigrants as students, the state Attorney General's Office advised in a letter released Wednesday. Read More
Perdue, McCrory get set for Nov.
Not even 12 hours had passed after their gubernatorial primary victories before Democratic Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Republican Mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte started the long race to the November election. Read More
Legislature looks at closing Castle Hayne agriculture research facility
CASTLE HAYNE, N.C. -- When the Castle Hayne Horticultural Crops Research Station was established more than 60 years ago, there wasn't much surrounding the facility except for farms and fields. Read More
McCrory, Perdue signal new campaign, new rules
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the Republican nominee for governor, offered a preview Wednesday of the campaign that lies ahead. Without mentioning her name, he jabbed at Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic nominee, as "old style," inaccessible, overpromising and divisive. Read More
Easley to seek poultry changes
Gov. Mike Easley will ask lawmakers next week for additional money, staff and authority to determine how often North Carolina's poultry workers are hurt on the job and whether companies are treating them humanely. Read More
N.C. shatters voter turnout record
North Carolina's primary has shattered voter turnout records. More than 2.1 million people cast a ballot in Tuesday's election, and most voted in the Democratic primary that featured the historic race for the White House. Read More
Governor election pits two old pros
Beverly Perdue and Pat McCrory, the winners of the Democratic and Republican primaries for governor, are very good at winning elections. Read More
AG - Close colleges to illegal aliens
Public colleges in North Carolina should not admit illegal immigrants as students, the state Attorney General's Office advised in a letter released Wednesday. Read More
Budget cuts vex black legislators
TRENTON, N.J. -- A group of legislators with enough sway to hold up the state budget expressed worry yesterday that proposed cuts could make it harder for poor minorities to get health care and attend college. Read More
Center tied to Corzine backs out of state pact
The New York University Child Study Center last night abruptly withdrew from a $2 million state contract that prompted controversy because Gov. Jon Corzine helped establish the center and it is run by his close friends. Read More
McGreevey case going to court as talks falter
After two days of negotiations sputtered short of a resolution, the squabbling McGreeveys find themselves back where they started at the beginning of the week: Heading for a potentially messy divorce trial. Read More
Jersey Democrats call for party unity
June Fischer of Scotch Plains has been to every Democratic National Convention since 1972 and will be in Denver this August as a superdelegate. She had been supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton, but said yesterday that after Tuesday's primary results, she is "in flux." Read More
Meadowlands Commission cuts ties with developer
After years of legal and political wrangling and hundreds of millions of dollars in public money, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission voted Wednesday to end its relationship with a developer that wanted to build thousands of homes and a golf course atop several landfills. Read More
Gov. Richardson -- U.S. - Mexico border more secure
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico ? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday that he has seen an improvement in security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Read More
Richardson talks health, education in Mexico
Gov. Bill Richardson and several Mexican officials signed various international agreements Wednesday, on topics dealing with rail crossings to border health projects. Read More
N.M. governor says border security is improving
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Wednesday that he has seen an improvement in security along the U.S.-Mexico border. Read More
Judge rejects newspaper suit over governor's weapons permit
RENO, Nev. - A Washoe District Court judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by a Reno newspaper seeking documents concerning the mishandling of Gov. Jim Gibbons' concealed weapons permit. Read More
Nevada Supreme Court sets hearing on judge's term argument
The Nevada Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments July 1 on Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Halverson's claim that she doesn't need to run for re-election in November. Read More
Teachers negotiate tax plan
A teachers' union pushing an initiative petition to raise Nevada's gambling taxes is negotiating with resort representatives on a possible deal that would head off the petition while still providing more education funds. Read More
Nevada's legal firm changes lawyers in Yucca Mountain fight
LAS VEGAS - Nevada's lead lawyer in the fight against the federal government's Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project is reducing his role as he battles stomach cancer. Read More
Divorce as political spectacle
When word of marital trouble in the Governor?s Mansion seeped out, Gov. Jim Gibbons' allies hoped for as quiet a divorce as possible. Read More
Nevada governor signs order for new anti-waste panel
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and the head of his new anti-government waste panel said Wednesday the state has an outdated bureaucracy that needs to be streamlined quickly given the current economic downturn that has cut into tax revenues. Read More
Cuomo's power play
A furious Attorney General Andrew Cuomo yesterday demanded that the state Power Authority disclose who destroyed e-mail and BlackBerry messages involving Daniel Wiese, the agency's suspended inspector general and a central figure in the probe of political-espionage activities by the State Police. Read More
Bruno probe focus on ethics opinions
An FBI investigation of Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno is focusing on several opinions he received more than a decade ago from the Legislative Ethics Commission that relate to his personal business ventures, including real estate development and horse breeding, the Times Union has learned. Read More
Senate gas-tax cut hits pothole
The state Senate has passed legislation to suspend state gasoline taxes for the summer, but the initiative has little traction because of opposition from the Assembly and Gov. David Paterson. Read More
Maverick Voinovich could be problematic for McCain
John McCain clearly can't count on Ohio's liberal U.S. senator to help him win the presidency. But can he count on the maverick Republican one? Read More
Ohio congressional hopefuls swift to rebuke attorney general
As Ohio's attorney general sex scandal becomes the butt of national jokes, Democratic congressional candidates who will face the state's voters this fall are scrambling to distance themselves. Read More
Dann's campaign fund to undergo routine audit
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann used his campaign fund for items big and small last year ? everything from $33,753 in security equipment and $1,170 for lawn and pool work at his house to a 35-cent charge at a McDonald's in Ravenna. Read More
Environmentalists attack Voinovich over climate change
Preparing for debate over global warming in the U.S. Senate next month, the Environmental Defense Action Fund today is running a full-page ad in The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, criticizing Ohio's George Voinovich. Read More
Ohio official - Help needed from A.G.'s office on whether A.G. can be impeached
Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted says lawmakers determining whether Attorney General Marc Dann should be impeached over a sex scandal need help from an unlikely source: the attorney general himself. Read More
Dann hires political spokesman
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is not only worried about his professional career but his political future as well if a recent hire in the midst of a sexual harassment scandal that could cost him his job is any indication. Read More
Cleveland public, charter schools pledge to work together
Someone joked that the decades-old gong that begins City Club of Cleveland forums sounds a lot like the bell used to start prizefights. Read More
House seeks reports before acting to impeach Dann
The march toward impeachment of Attorney General Marc Dann appears to have slowed to a crawl. Read More
Oklahoma educators decry bond issue plan
Representatives from education groups spoke out Wednesday against any state bond issue. |
