State House

Wisconsin Republicans Look at Limiting Governor’s Power

November 9, 2018 at 9:26 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “The Republican plan to take power away from the incoming Democratic governor could include overhauling state boards and removing authority that Republican lawmakers handed to GOP Gov. Scott Walker (R) when he took office in 2011.”

“Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) said Thursday that Republicans are looking at giving incoming Gov. Tony Evers (D) less say in state rules that implement state laws. Eight years ago, Republicans handed Walker more power over those rules when he was first sworn in.”

Texas Lawmaker Re-Elected While In Jail

November 8, 2018 at 10:28 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Texas state Rep. Ron Reynolds (D) “won re-election Tuesday and should be back on the job in a few months, with good behavior,” USA Today reports.

“Reynolds, who ran unopposed, is currently serving a yearlong sentence in the Montgomery County Jail for a 2015 misdemeanor conviction for illegally soliciting clients for his law practice from a chiropractic firm.”

LePage Will Move to Florida

November 6, 2018 at 6:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said that “he plans to move to Florida for tax reasons and teach at a university there regardless of who Mainers elect to succeed him,” the Portland Press Herald reports.

Said Page: “I’ll be a resident of Florida if Janet Mills wins, I can promise you that… I’ll also be in Florida if Shawn Moody wins because I am going to retire and go to Florida.”

He added: “I am done with politics. I have done my eight years. It’s time for somebody else.”

GOP Lawmaker Accused of Assaulting Porn Producer

October 30, 2018 at 3:34 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New Hampshire state Rep. Frank Sapareto (R), who was producing and starring in a porn film, “assaulted his business partner in California after he felt his scenes didn’t go well, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the partner,” the AP reports.

“Sapareto, who is in his seventh term in the House and is vice chair of the criminal justice and public safety committee… He is running for re-election next month and said if he wins, he plans to run for House speaker.”

Hawley Doesn’t Use Email

October 22, 2018 at 12:32 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) portrays himself as champion of openness in government, proclaiming “the people of Missouri deserve an open, honest and transparent government,” McClatchy reports.

“But Hawley, 38, is one of two statewide officials who do not use email on the job, making it difficult for voters — or his political opponents — to know how he conducts official business.”

Hawley’s office said that the attorney general “does not find it necessary or helpful” to use email for state business.

Nebraska’s New Tourism Pitch

October 18, 2018 at 1:26 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Nebraska’s new tourism marketing campaign concedes that the state is a bit boring, yet it hopes to lure travelers by highlighting that you can escape noisy cities and create your own fun,” the Omaha World Herald reports.

The state’s new slogan: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”

Alaska’s Lt. Governor Resigns Suddenly

October 16, 2018 at 7:34 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigned from office Tuesday, Gov. Bill Walker (I) said, following disclosure of recent “inappropriate comments” he made, the Anchorage Daily News reports.

“It wasn’t immediately clear what Mallott said or to whom, and the governor’s office was not answering questions about what happened.”

Scott Cannot Appoint New Florida Justices

October 16, 2018 at 7:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), who’s leaving office in January due to term limits, does not have the authority to fill three vacant seats on the state’s Supreme Court, the court ruled on Monday, Axios reports.

“This raises the stakes in Florida’s highly contested gubernatorial race between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis, because the winner will decide the ideological balance of the seven-member court for years.”

Idaho Official Resigns Over Photos of Killed Baboons

October 15, 2018 at 8:11 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Blake Fischer resigned Monday, three days after the Statesman first reported on criticism Fischer faced for sharing photos of an African hunting trip,” the Idaho Statesman reports.

“He was asked to resign by Gov. Butch Otter.”

“Fischer has received criticism from around the world after Friday’s report on the hunting trip he took to Africa and the photos he shared with friends and colleagues. Particularly, the image of his posing with a ‘family of baboons’ he shot during his trip to Namibia provoked criticism from former Idaho wildlife commissioners and has circulated on national media outlets.”

Lewd Conduct Has Created ‘Toxic’ Iowa Statehouse

October 14, 2018 at 9:02 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“For more than a decade, Iowa legislators and staff members engaged in lewd and sexually aggressive behavior, creating a “toxic” environment and a “culture of secrets” at the state Capitol,” according to detailed court depositions reviewed by the Des Moines Register.

“The depositions, taken under oath by about two-dozen lawmakers and legislative staffers, comprise more than 1,000 pages of documents previously unreleased to the public. They were part of a landmark sexual harassment case that resulted in the state of Iowa paying a $1.75 million settlement last year.”

“The depositions detail more than 50 instances of inappropriate behavior that played out over years at the Capitol.”

Bevin Throws Grenades In New Video

October 14, 2018 at 6:07 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) “channeled his inner action hero and took on government regulations in a new video where he throws smoke bombs and shoots grenade launchers,” USA Today reports.

“The video comes at a time where Bevin faces record low popularity in the Bluegrass State.”

Idaho Commissioner Called to Resign Over Hunting Photos

October 14, 2018 at 8:53 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Idaho Fish and Game Commissioner Blake Fischer shared photos of his guided hunting trip in Africa with friends and colleagues when he returned last month, expecting they’d appreciate his success,” the Idaho Statesman reports.

“Instead, several former Fish and Game commissioners are pushing for his resignation — with a photo of a ‘family of baboons’ that Fischer shot with a recurve bow prompting most of the outrage.”

Candidate Quits After Comments on Shooting Survivors

October 12, 2018 at 11:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Steven Baleshiski (R), a legislative candidate in Connecticut who made harsh comments about Parkland High shooting victims, quit his race after losing town committee backing, the Hartford Courant reports.

Said Baleshiski: “I’m not supposed to speak ill of David Hogg because he is a ‘survivor.’ Apparently if you survive horrific events, that makes the stupidity spewing out of your mouth above reproach. I disagree. Hogg can burn in hell, I don’t care what he survived. Survivors who wage war on my country are my enemies.”

Republicans hope to find a new candidate.

West Virginia Supreme Court Halts Impeachment Trial

October 11, 2018 at 8:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Acting justices on the state Supreme Court issued a ruling to block the impeachment trial of Justice Margaret Workman, putting the legislative and judicial branches of West Virginia’s state government in direct conflict,” West Virginia Metro News reports.

From the ruling: “This case is not about whether or not a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia can or should be impeached; but rather it is about the fact that to do so, it must be done correctly and constitutionally with due process. We are a nation of laws and not of men, and the rule of law must be followed.”

New York Reviewing Trump Tax Fraud Allegations

October 2, 2018 at 6:10 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York state tax officials are investigating allegations detailed in an exhaustive New York Times investigation into Donald Trump and his family’s business dealings, CNBC reports.

Meanwhile, the state tax department already is investigating the president’s charity, the Trump Foundation.

Missouri Lost Track of 1,300 Sex Offenders

October 1, 2018 at 7:21 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Police don’t know the whereabouts of nearly 1,300 registered sex offenders in Missouri, including hundreds who fall into the most dangerous category,” the AP reports.

“Missouri law requires convicted sex offenders to register their names, addresses and other information with their county law enforcement, most often the sheriff’s department. The Missouri State Highway Patrol maintains a publicly available database. Offenders must keep their information up-to-date and notify law enforcement when they move.”