Maine Democrats pushing for impeachment proceedings against Gov. Paul LePage (R) say they will introduce a measure this week calling for an investigation into eight possible charges against the Republican chief executive, the Portland Press Herald reports.
Abbott Wants Power to Nullify U.S. Laws
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) “wants to dramatically curtail the U.S. Supreme Court’s power and slash federal oversight of states through a national convention to amend the U.S. Constitution,” the Houston Chronicle reports.
“Convening such a national gathering is allowed under the U.S. Constitution, but would be a difficult proposition. It would require approval by 34 states — including Texas through its Legislature. Abbott is not calling for a special legislative session in Texas, leaving the issue to the 2017 legislative session.”
Dallas Morning News: “Along with the speech, Abbott released a nearly 70-page plan – part American civics lesson, part anti-Obama diatribe – detailing nine proposed constitutional amendments that he said would unravel the federal government’s decades-long power grab and restore authority over economic regulation and other matters to the states.”
Snyder Won’t Comment on Flint Water Poisoning
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) refused “to say when he knew the Flint water crisis — children being poisoned by lead from their drinking taps — was being mishandled,” NBC News reports.
“Earlier this week, the Republican declared a state of emergency over the elevated lead levels — which began when Flint switched water sources in April 2014 to cut costs. But an internal email obtained by Virginia Tech researchers shows that the governor’s office knew months ago that Flint’s families had reason to be worried about the problem and the response.”
LePage Says Drug Dealers are Impregnating ‘White Girls’
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) made a racially charged comment during one of his regular town hall meetings about how he was tackling substance abuse in Maine, the Portland Press Herald reports.
Said LePage: “These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty… these types of guys… they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home. Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road.”
Lawmakers Would Have to Disclose Sex with Lobbyists
“Lobbyists who have sex with a Missouri lawmaker or their staff would have to disclose it to the Missouri Ethics Commission,” the Kansas City Star reports.
A new bill introduced in the Missouri House “defines sex between lobbyists and legislators as a gift. As such, sexual relations would have to be included on monthly lobbyist gift disclosure forms.”
Bevin Calls Special Elections in Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) “has set March 8 as the date for critical special elections to” fill four vacancies in the state House of Representatives caused by legislators taking jobs he offered them in the executive branch, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
“Those elections could tip the balance of power in the House, which will stand at 50 Democrats and 46 Republicans when the General Assembly convenes on Tuesday.”
Indiana Lawmaker Targets Transgender Bathroom Use
Indiana state Rep. Jim Tomes (R) “has proposed a bill that would make it a crime for transgender people to use public bathrooms and locker rooms that do not conform to their gender at birth,” the Chicago Tribune reports.
“The issue is particularly charged in Indiana, where tensions have run high since spring when lawmakers faced backlash for a religious objections law that critics said would sanction discrimination against gay people on religious grounds.”
Quote of the Day
“Rape is non-existent in marriage, take what you want my friend!”
— Texas state Rep. Jonathan Strickland (R), quoted by the Texas Observer.
Bevin Moves to Reshape Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) “filed five executive orders late Tuesday to start reshaping state government along conservative ideological lines, including one that removes county clerks’ names from marriage licenses, granting the request of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, who opposes same-sex marriage,” the Lexington Herald Leader reports.
“Others reversed earlier executive orders by former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear to restore voting rights to felons and for a higher minimum wage for state workers and employees of state vendors.”
New Recording Suggests Martinez was Drunk
A new recording from a police sergeant’s belt recorder suggests New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) was inebriated the night officers responded to a noise complaint at a hotel where she was hosting a holiday party, the AP reports.
“Martinez’s speech is halting and lilting as she describes the situation in an upstairs hotel room after the ballroom gala… The incident also threatens to freeze Martinez’s rising influence within her party as chair of the Republican Governors Association, a fundraising arm of the GOP.”
Martinez Apologizes for Behavior at Hotel
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R) apologized for the behavior of her staff at a rowdy holiday party and for her testy conversation after police were called, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
Said Martinez: “I want to apologize for the conduct of my staff the night of our holiday party. There was apparently a party in a hotel room earlier in the night that was disruptive. Someone was also throwing snowballs from a balcony. None of that should have happened and I was not aware of the extent of the behavior, until recently. And that behavior is not acceptable.”
She added: “I also want to admit that I made a mistake when I went to speak to the receptionist and asked her about the complaint. I should not have gotten involved… I was wrong to speak with them like that, and I apologize.”
Bonus Quote of the Day
“I’m sorry, there is no one on the balcony, and there’s no one throwing bottles off the balcony. And if they were, it was about six hours ago.”
— New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (R), on a phone call after police were called to her hotel room.
Police Called to New Mexico Governor’s Hotel Room
Police were dispatched to New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez’s (R) hotel room at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after a caller complained of loud noises emanating from the room and someone throwing bottles off the balcony, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
“Santa Fe County dispatchers on Friday released recordings of Martinez talking to dispatchers after the complaint was made. She insisted on knowing who made the complaint and telling dispatchers that police officers were not needed. The governor said she and her disabled sister were in the room, along with six other people eating pizza.”
NM Political Report obtained audio of three calls to police.
Edwards Moves Towards Bipartisan Cabinet
Louisiana Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards (D) is expected to name Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne (R) as his top state government administrator and chief budget officer, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
“The move could be interpreted as Edwards’ first substantial commitment to a bipartisan cabinet. Edwards, a Democrat, has picked Dardenne, a Republican who ran against him in the gubernatorial primary, for arguably the most important and high-profile job in the state government next to his own. As Louisiana’s commissioner of administration, Dardenne will be in charge of running day-to-day operations of government and putting together solutions to the state budget problems for Edwards.”
Branstad Set to Break Longevity Record
After nearly 21 years in office, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) this month will become the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, “surpassing a mark set by a onetime Revolutionary War general,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Few governors even reach a decade in office, in part because most states have term limits. Among sitting governors, Mr. Branstad’s closest peer is California’s Jerry Brown, who is nearing 13 years in office broken up over two time periods. Mr. Branstad will set the record on Dec. 14, surpassing George Clinton, the first governor of New York.”
Supreme Court Blocks Hawaiian Vote
“A closely divided Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily blocked Hawaii from counting votes in an election open only to descendants of its indigenous people, who were selecting delegates to an assembly that would propose greater self-government for Native Hawaiians, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Alabama Must Pay Planned Parenthood Legal Fees
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) attempt to defund Planned Parenthood of about $4,453 over two years will instead cost the state $51,000 to pay the group’s legal fees, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.
Said Bentley: “Headlines may not show it was a win, but it was a win.”
Remaking Illinois
The New York Times looks at how Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) and his wealthy friends are transforming the state and its politics.
“The families remaking Illinois are among a small group around the country who have channeled their extraordinary wealth into political power, taking advantage of regulatory, legal and cultural shifts that have carved new paths for infusing money into campaigns. Economic winners in an age of rising inequality, operating largely out of public view, they are reshaping government with fortunes so large as to defy the ordinary financial scale of politics.”
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