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
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
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
“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.”
Pence Creates State News Service in Indiana
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is starting a state-run news agency, the Indianapolis Star reports.
The site called “Just IN” will provide pre-written stories for small Indiana news outlets on breaking news as well as “personality driven profiles.” Stories will be written by the Pence administration’s communications team.
Republican Governors Move to Hike Taxes
“Republican governors across the nation are proposing tax increases — and backing off pledges to cut taxes — as they strike a decidedly un-Republican pose in the face of budget shortfalls and pent-up demands from constituents after years of budget cuts,” the New York Times reports.
“At least eight Republican governors have ventured into this once forbidden territory: There are proposals for raising the sales tax in Michigan, a tax on e-cigarettes in Utah, and gas taxes in South Carolina and South Dakota, to name a few. In Arizona, the new Republican governor has put off, in the face of a $1 billion budget shortfall, a campaign promise to eliminate the unpopular income tax there.”
Christie Has Been Given 77 Diet Books
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) office “has kept track of more than 1,100 gifts he’s received in his official capacity since taking office. The records show that gift-givers have seen fit to shower the governor with virtually every diet book, CD, DVD and weight loss kit available. Of about 600 books presented to Christie as gifts, 77 were about the topics of diet, exercise, bariatric surgery or self-help weight loss,” the Newark Star Ledger reports.
Three Men in a Room
One day after the arrest of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D), U.S. attorney Preet Bharara criticized Albany’s political culture, Capital New York reports.
Said Bharara: “There are by my count 213 men and women in the state legislature, and yet it is common knowledge that only three men essentially wield all the power. I must confess a little bit of confusion about this: When did this come to pass? Why has everyone just come to accept it?”
Top Republicans Call for Investigation Into Scott
As Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) “faced mounting questions about the ouster of the top state law enforcement chief and allegations of improper political meddling, two influential fellow Republicans called for an inquiry on Thursday into the potentially damaging accusations,” the New York Times reports.
Former Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey told the Tampa Bay Times “he was pressured by Scott’s office or his campaign to doctor details of a criminal investigation, use state cars to ferry campaign workers, help write Scott’s campaign platform on law enforcement and intervene in a federal investigation of a possible Scott appointee.”
Lawmaker Elected While in Jail Faces New Felony Charges
Virginia lawmaker Joseph Morrissey (D), “who was elected to the House of Delegates while serving a jail term now faces felony charges for allegedly entering a forged document into court and lying under oath,” the Washington Post reports.
“The new charges raise anew the possibility of sanctions or even expulsion for Morrissey in the House, where his colleagues expressed chagrin at the continuing drama and said they were considering their options.”
Idaho Rejects Salamander as State Amphibian
“Idaho lawmakers worried that special recognition of the Idaho giant salamander could lead to federal protections have rejected a grade school student’s request that it be named the state amphibian,” the Idaho Statesman reports.
Rep. Ken Andrus (R) voted against the measure after recalling being repulsed by them as a young boy: “They were ugly, they were slimy, and they were creepy. And I’ve not gotten over that. So to elevate them to the status of being the state amphibian, I’m not there yet.”
Where Was Nathan Deal?
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) “skipped town over the weekend for an economic development trip. Just where he went is being treated like a state secret,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
“His office won’t disclose where the state’s top elected official journeyed or whom he visited. His public schedule is blank. His name was on the agenda for Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration but he wasn’t there.”
Christie Approval Underwater in New Jersey
Quinnipiac: “One year after the Bridgegate scandal erupted, New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie still can’t get his job approval rating over the 50% mark as 46% of New Jersey voters approve of the job he’s doing, while 48% disapprove, his worst overall score in almost four years.”
Christie Won’t Disclose Credit Card Bills
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) staff “has refused to release almost $800,000 in American Express card bills being sought by New Jersey Watchdog which has written that the governor’s travel is costing taxpayers a lot of money,” the Asbury Park Press reports.
“Last week, the investigative web site reported Christie’s State Police bodyguard costs have grown by 1,800 percent since Christie became governor. State records showed those costs were $959,856 — not including unreleased expenses — for the last quarter of last year.”
Brownback Proposes Tax Hike Despite Rhetoric
“During his State of the State address Thursday Gov. Sam Brownback declared the state would continue its ‘march to zero’ on income taxes, but the budget and tax plans he unveiled Friday morning showed it would not be marching so quickly. Brownback proposed increasing overall taxes by $211 million for the next fiscal year, which starts in July,” the Wichita Eagle reports.
“The governor offered a proposal strikingly similar to the one offered by his Democratic opponent, Paul Davis, during the election, which Brownback’s campaign had repeatedly attacked. Brownback’s plan would allow a very small reduction to tax rates for the lower income tax bracket to take place in 2016 and then freeze rates until state coffers are restored. He also proposes massive tax increases on liquor and tobacco products.”
New Trend for Southern Democrats?
North Carolina state Rep. Paul Tine “changed his political party to unaffiliated last week, it represented one more blow for an endangered species at the legislature: the rural, moderate Democrat,” the Raleigh News & Observer reports.
Haley Still Standing in South Carolina
When South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) “takes her second oath for the state’s highest office Wednesday, she will stand as a survivor of a sometimes turbulent first term, having outlasted many of her opponents and controversies,” the Columbia State reports.
“Powerful legislative leaders who fought the Lexington Republican’s priorities have left the General Assembly. Foes who took Haley to court and challenged her at the ballot box failed to knock her out of office. Scandals, including the worst data hacking of a state agency in U.S. history, did not cause lasting damage.”
Virginia Lawmaker Wins Special Election from Jail
Virginia Del. Joseph Morrissey (D) “won a special election to keep his seat in the 74th House of Delegates district, making him the first jailed lawmaker in modern Virginia history to win reelection,” the Richmond Times Dispatch reports.
“The lawmaker was sentenced in December to six months in jail after entering an Alford plea to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”
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