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How Cuomo Governs New York

February 9, 2015 at 11:05 am EST By Taegan Goddard 5 Comments

Jeffrey Toobin interviewed Andrew Cuomo (D), “the notoriously press-averse governor of New York, about a range of subjects, including his political rise, his father’s legacy, and corruption in Albany.”

“For better and for worse, Cuomo views his work as a series of transactions. He disdains rhetoric; he prizes results.”

Said Cuomo: “My job is to get to yes. If I don’t make a deal, I get nothing done. If I get nothing done, I am a failure. If the objective is to make a nice speech, it means nothing.”

Oregon First Lady Directed Policy She Was Paid to Promote

February 9, 2015 at 7:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

“A new batch of emails released Friday show Cylvia Hayes directed state employees how to implement a new policy while she was being paid $25,000 by an advocacy group to promote it,” the Oregonian reports.

“The emails appear to erase any doubt that, as first lady, Hayes was taking money in her private role and pushing the same policy in her public one. The governor’s office has conceded only that Hayes’ roles as first lady and policy adviser to Gov. John Kitzhaber and as a private consultant put her in a gray area.”

Bonus Quote of the Day

February 6, 2015 at 4:36 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 89 Comments

“Obviously rape is awful… What is beautiful is the child that could come from this.”

— West Virginia Delegate Brian Kurcaba (R), quoted by the Charleston Gazette, on a bill banning abortions even in the cases of rape and incest.

Pressure on Kitzhaber Grows

February 6, 2015 at 4:28 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 15 Comments

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has labeled as “troubling” allegations against Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) and his fiancée linked to a potential conflict of interest over his future wife’s consulting work and her role as an unpaid adviser, Reuters reports.

Said Rosenblum: “Recent allegations relating to Governor Kitzhaber and Ms. Hayes are very serious – and troubling. My office is considering all of our legal options to ensure that we are best serving the state.”

Wisconsin Treasurer Seeks to Cut His Own Job

February 6, 2015 at 12:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 13 Comments

Wisconsin Treasurer Matt Adamczyk (R) has proposed eliminating his own job as a cost-saving measure, the New York Times reports.

“In what may be the ultimate expression of many Republicans’ desire to whittle down government to the bone, Mr. Adamczyk ran for treasurer on the promise to eliminate the position during his one and only term in office. Despite its impressive name, the Office of the State Treasurer is virtually powerless. Most of its duties have gradually been transferred to other state agencies, like the Department of Revenue. One of the treasurer’s few remaining responsibilities is to help supervise a little-known agency called the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.”

Christie Faces Federal Criminal Investigation

February 6, 2015 at 7:33 am EST By Taegan Goddard 44 Comments

“Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as well as members of his administration,” ABC News reports.

“The U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey has interviewed former Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Bennett Barlyn, who claims he was fired because he objected to Christie officials dismissing indictments against political allies of the governor.”

Virginia Moves Towards Secret Executions

February 6, 2015 at 6:33 am EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

Washington Post: “State-sponsored executions in Virginia would become shrouded in unprecedented secrecy under legislation that is advancing with bipartisan support, including that of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The measure is intended to keep drugs used for lethal injections flowing into Virginia by shielding manufacturers from public scrutiny and political pressure.”

Quote of the Day

February 5, 2015 at 7:02 am EST By Taegan Goddard 99 Comments

“If an individual has sex with their wife while she is unconscious… a prosecutor could then charge that spouse with rape, theoretically. That makes sense in a first-date scenario, but to me, not where people have a history of years of sexual activity.”

— Utah state Rep. Brian Greene (R), quoted by the Salt Lake Tribune.

A New Bush Already in the Spotlight

February 5, 2015 at 6:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

“George P. Bush’s new job as Texas land commissioner has nothing to do with abortion, and it lacks any authority to funnel public dollars to private schools. But after barely 30 days in office, he’s already headlined high-profile rallies on both issues,” the AP reports.

“The 38-year-old has a political surname far better known than his obscure office, which administers Texas’ vast public lands and mineral rights. Though he insists he’s not yet eying any moves up Texas’ political ladder, the newest Bush in politics has wasted no time becoming a leading voice for top conservative causes and seizing the spotlight in a state already full of powerful Republicans.”

Major Paper Calls on Oregon Governor to Resign

February 4, 2015 at 8:13 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 35 Comments

The Oregonian has called for Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) to resign over “revelations about the apparently borderless world of public policy and private gain in which he and fiancée Cylvia Hayes exist.”

“More ugliness may surface, but it should be clear by now to Kitzhaber that his credibility has evaporated to such a degree that he can no longer serve effectively as governor. If he wants to serve his constituents he should resign.”

“To recite every reported instance in which Hayes, ostensibly under Kitzhaber’s watchful eye, has used public resources, including public employee time and her ‘first lady’ title, in pursuit of professional gain would require far more space than we have here and, besides, repeat what most readers already know. Suffice it to say there’s a pattern, and the person who bears the responsibility for allowing it to form and persist is Kitzhaber, who should know better. After all, as he pointed out during Friday’s press conference, he’s been serving in public office on and off since the 1970s.”

Jailed Lawmaker Votes Against Banning Porn in Jail

February 4, 2015 at 5:35 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 12 Comments

Virginia Del. Joe Morrissey (D), who spends his nights in jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, is opposing a measure aimed at keeping pornography out of the hands of inmates, NBC Washington reports.

“The bill passed by a broad majority and its sponsor said the state’s wardens support the measure so that they can keep ‘hard-core’ pornography out of the hands of inmates. Morrissey told reporters that the measure won’t survive legal challenges and noted that he is a former constitutional law professor.”

Rauner Jacks Up Pay for Top Staffers

January 31, 2015 at 4:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 18 Comments

“While criticizing state spending and state worker salaries as too high, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) is paying top members of his administration significantly more than their predecessors in Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration,” a review by the Associated Press has found.

The review of state payroll records “found nine of ten top administrative posts paying more under Rauner, who took office earlier this month. On an annual basis, those Rauner staffers will make more than the equivalent Quinn staffers by nearly 36 percent, or roughly $380,000.”

Brown Files for Pension in Massachusetts

January 31, 2015 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 19 Comments

Scott Brown (R), “who won a Senate seat in Massachusetts and lost one in New Hampshire, is ready for retirement. Brown has applied for his state pension, in Massachusetts, based on his nearly 17 years of state, county, and municipal service, which also entitles him to retiree health benefits,” the Boston Globe reports.

“Availing himself of the public pension to which he contributed during his time in office clouds Brown’s political future, particularly if he chooses to remain in New Hampshire… Part of Brown’s core argument in last year’s campaign was that he had roots in the state, and was more philosophically aligned with its residents than with those in Massachusetts.”

Video Shows Chris Christie Falling Off Chair

January 30, 2015 at 8:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 24 Comments

Never before publicly-seen footage of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) falling off his chair during an in-studio appearance — which had been kept private — was released by a Philadelphia sports radio station as payback for the governor rooting for the Dallas Cowboys over the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks ago.

Pence Nixes State-Run New Agency

January 30, 2015 at 6:56 am EST By Taegan Goddard 2 Comments

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) “killed his administration’s plans for a state-run news service Thursday amid a national uproar that spurred ridicule for the idea across the political spectrum,” the Indianapolis Star reports.

Ricketts Paying Aide Out of His Own Pocket

January 29, 2015 at 7:31 am EST By Taegan Goddard 3 Comments

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) is paying longtime political operative Jessica Moenning with his own money to work for him as a senior adviser in the governor’s office, the Omaha World Herald reports.

“The arrangement has prompted questions about a private employee, paid out of the governor’s own pocket, being involved in public policies and using, at least for a time, publicly funded office space at the State Capitol.”

Pence Walks Back State-Run News Agency Idea

January 27, 2015 at 2:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 23 Comments

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) said he will soon be “clarifying” what his state-run news site will be doing soon and called reports on the plan an “understandable misunderstanding,” the Indianapolis Star reports.

“News of Pence’s plans for the news site exploded overnight after The Star broke the story late Monday. National media began asking if Pence’s news service would be similar state-run media in Russia and China.”

Democrats Move to Push Silver Out

January 27, 2015 at 8:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard 3 Comments

“Moving to exile one of New York’s most powerful and long-serving leaders, Democrats in the State Assembly agreed late on Monday to ask Sheldon Silver to step down as speaker in the wake of his arrest last week on federal corruption charges,” the New York Times reports.

“The Democrats reached the decision in a closed-door meeting that stretched for hours, rebuffing a bid by Mr. Silver to keep his post by relinquishing some of his responsibilities while he defended himself against the charges.”