FACT: In the last 3 years, America has lost 1.7 million jobs.
SOURCE: Washington Post, 1/6/12; Bureau of Labor Statistics
America has lost a total of 1.7 million jobs since the day when Barack Obama took office three years ago. Despite Obama’s promise that his “stimulus” package would keep unemployment under 8%, America’s unemployment rate has been stuck at 8% or higher for 35 straight months.
“There are 1.7 million fewer jobs in the country now than when Obama took office, according to government data…” (Washington Post, 1/6/12)
FACT: Since 2009 our renewable energy consumption has increased only 6%.
SOURCE: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Despite President Obama’s pledge to double our supply of renewable energy, statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that renewable energy use increased only 6% between 2009 and 2010.
FACT: The California energy company, Solyndra, went bankrupt and cost taxpayers $535 million and 1,100 jobs.
SOURCE: Washington Post, 8/31/11
Solyndra has emerged as one of the biggest scandals of the Obama administration. The California company, backed by a wealthy Obama fundraiser named George Kaiser, went bankrupt after being awarded a $535 million loan guarantee. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has testified that taxpayers are unlikely to re-coup most of that money and 1,100 workers lost their jobs in the company’s collapse.
“A company that served as a showcase for the Obama administration’s effort to create jobs in clean technology shut down Wednesday, leaving 1,100 people out of work and taxpayers obligated for $535 million in federal loans.
Solyndra, a California solar panel maker, had long been an administration favorite…Solyndra officials said in a news release that they were suspending operations and planned to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.” (Washington Post, 8/31/11)
“Energy Secretary Steven Chu told lawmakers he was responsible for the $535 million U.S. loan guarantee to Solyndra LLC and said he doubted much of the money would be recovered after the company’s bankruptcy…Asked how much of the taxpayer funding invested in Solyndra may be recovered, Chu, 63, said, “I’m anticipating not very much.” …Representative Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, asked who would be paid first as money is recouped from the sale of Solyndra’s assets. “Does the taxpayer have first dibs?” Scalise said. “After restructuring? No,” Chu responded.” (Bloomberg, 11/17/11)
FACT: The President waited nearly 3 years before signing any trade deals.
SOURCE: Associated Press, 10/21/11
It took President Obama until October 2011, nearly 3 years after he took office, to sign free trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. They were the first trade deals signed by his administration.
One major reason for the delay: according to the Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration had not yet sent the deals to Congress.
“President Barack Obama signed off Friday on the first three — and possibly last — free trade agreements of his administration, deals with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama…” (Associated Press, 10/21/11) “President Obama says he wants to get the U.S. economy growing, so here’s a tip that may help: In order for Congress to ratify free-trade agreements, the White House must first send the signed deals to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. On his three-state tour in the Midwest this week, Mr. Obama repeatedly told audiences that the Korea, Colombia and Panama free-trade deals would all be law by now if not for an obstructionist Congress. Passing the deals is something Congress “could do right now,” he said. Except that’s not true. Congress can’t pass the agreements “right now” because it doesn’t have them. They are still sitting on the President’s desk. Seriously.” (Wall Street Journal, 8/20/11)
FACT: The 2012 budget deficit is still over $1 trillion.
SOURCE: Business Week, 2/14/11
Despite President Obama’s promise to tackle the deficit, his 2012 budget is still estimated to run a deficit of over $1 trillion. The budget deficit has been over $1 trillion every year since Obama has been in office.
“President Barack Obama sent Congress a $3.7 trillion budget that projects the federal deficit will exceed $1 trillion for the fourth consecutive year in 2012…The deficit for the current fiscal year is forecast to hit a record $1.6 trillion — 10.9 percent of gross domestic product — up from the $1.4 trillion the administration estimated previously. It would be $1.1 trillion in 2012, 7 percent of GDP.” (Business Week, 2/14/11)
FACT: 8 in 10 Americans are still dissatisfied with Washington.
SOURCE: Gallup poll, 9/26/11 & 1/11/12
Surveys from leading polling institutions like Gallup consistently show that despite President Obama’s pledge to transform and restore confidence in Washington, American public opinion of government, politicians and the direction of the country in general are at or near all-time lows.
This Gallup poll found 81% of Americans dissatisfied with the way the country is being governed, while this Gallup poll found satisfaction with the way things were going in the United States at only 18%.
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“What would you ask President Obama?” a January 23 email from The White House begins:
Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address at 9:00 p.m. ET. During that speech, he’ll lay out his vision for an America where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do.
There is a range of ways to get involved with this year’s State of the Union address.
Immediately following the President’s speech on Tuesday, be sure to stay tuned to WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU for a live panel featuring senior White House advisors answering your questions about the speech. Then, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, a group of policy experts and advisors to the President will sit down for Office Hours on Twitter — discussing the issues that matter to you and your community.
Finally, on Monday, January 30, President Obama will join the conversation in a special Google+ Hangout, a live multi-person video chat, from the White House.
Participating in the Hangout is easy — just visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote for your favorites between now and January 28. A few participants will be chosen to join the President in the Google+ Hangout to ask their questions of the President live!
Check out WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU to learn more about watching the enhanced State of the Union online and all the ways you can ask questions this week:
WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU
Here’s the full lineup — all times are ET.
Read more at examiner.com
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AL: Muddled GOP primary results put Alabama vote in the running
By Mary Orndorff, The Birmingham News
WASHINGTON — With Republicans in the first three state presidential contests divided and Alabama’s earlier primary date fast approaching, Alabama Republicans could play a role in picking the party’s nominee. |
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AZ: Democratic lawmaker unveils bill to repeal SB 1070 illegal immigration law
By Ivy Morris, Cronkite News Service
Nearly two years after SB 1070 became law, and just a few months after the recall of the measure’s author, a Democratic state lawmaker introduced legislation Monday to repeal it. |
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AZ: Giffords’ announcement a sad note
By Staff, The Bismarck Tribune
Gabrielle Giffords will resign from Congress this week. |
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AZ: Giffords’ decision sets up political free-for-all
By The Associated Press, Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix)
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ decision to resign from Congress sets up a political free-for-all in her competitive southeastern Arizona district, with voters set to pick a temporary replacement and then a full-term representative in rapid succession. |
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AZ: Ariz. House to review Fast and Furious operation
By The Associated Press, Arizona Capitol Times (Phoenix)
Arizona legislators said Monday they’re jumping into the review of a flawed federal gun-smuggling sting operation because it took place within their state. |
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CA: What California wants from Obama’s state of the union — Path to prosperity
By Josh Richman, Contra Costa Times
What do Californians want to hear from President Barack Obama in Tuesday’s State of the Union address? |
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CO: Colorado political kingmaker Paul Sandoval ends chemotherapy, enters hospice
By Lynn Bartles, The Denver Post
Political kingpin Paul Sandoval said he no longer has the energy or will to continue his fight against pancreatic cancer and hospice will be set up in his north Denver home. |
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CT: Agriculture’s star rises in Malloy administration
By Jan ellen Spiegel, The Connecticut Mirror
In an era when jobs haven’t exactly been growing on trees — Connecticut is betting that they just might. And on bushes. And even indoors. |
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CT: Malloy unveils plan to reverse two decades of damage to employees’ pension fund
By Keith M. Phaneuf, The Connecticut Mirror
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy unveiled plans Monday to reverse nearly two decades of budget gimmicks that leave the state facing huge payments over the next two decades to sustain Connecticut’s grossly underfunded state employee pension fund. |
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CT: Malloy calls for funding state pensions
By Christopher Keating, The Hartford Courant
Just days after a key Wall Street rating agency downgraded the state’s bonds, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy called upon the state legislature to pour more money into the state pension plan. |
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CT: Newton seeks to reclaim State Senate seat
By Michael P.Mayko, Connecticut Post
BRIDGEPORT — It’s been expected since Aug. 13, 2010, when he walks out the front door of a federal halfway house marking the end of his prison term. |
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DE: Research missions magnified at UD, DSU
By Wade Malcolm, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
With UD and Delaware State University increasing their emphasis on academic research, the amount of large federal grants flowing into the state has surged, nearly doubling in the past decade, according to a new study released by the National Science Foundation. |
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DE: Criminal justice database access to be reviewed in controversy’s wake
By Dan Shortridge, The News Journal (New Castle-Wilmington)
The state panel that oversees Delaware’s criminal justice databases will review access levels at the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office amid controversy over the sheriff’s authority. |
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FL: Proposal would change public/private boundaries on Florida’s lakes and rivers
By Craig Pittman, Tampa Bay Times
It seems like little more than bureaucratic tinkering. Bills now filed in the Florida House and Senate would change the definition of where something called the “ordinary high water line” is measured on waterways across Florida. |
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FL: Florida’s story of Republican dominance starts with a Democrat
By Steve Bousquet, Tampa Bay Times
It’s an important week for Florida Republicans, so it’s a good time to trace the beginning of the dominance of the modern GOP in the state. |
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FL: Energy group wants court to throw out nuclear-cost law
By Mary Ellen Klas, The Miami Herald
The state law that has allowed Florida Power & Light and Progress Energy to charge customers $1 billion so far for speculative nuclear power plants is unconstitutional, a group of energy advocates claims in a lawsuit before the state’s highest court. |
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FL: Critics say ‘parent trigger’ bill favors charters over public schools
By Kathleen McGrory, The Miami Herald
Florida parents are taking sides over a controversial piece of legislation known as the parent trigger. The buzzed-about bill would let a majority of parents at low-performing public schools demand dramatic changes at the school, or even have it converted into a publicly financed, privately managed charter school. |
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FL: Florida school district ranking unveiled: Dade 37th, Broward 26th, Monroe 8th
By Kathleen McGrory and Laura Isensee, The Miami Herald
Florida on Monday released its controversial ranking of the state’s 67 school districts, with Miami-Dade landing in a disputed 37th place and Broward 26th. The top spot went to St. Johns County, which includes St. Augustine. Madison County in north Florida ranked last. |
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FL: Florida trims early voting hours
By Steve Bousquet, The Miami Herald
When state legislators cut back early voting from 14 days to eight, they said the total number of hours would remain the same — 96. But for next week’s presidential primary in Florida, that’s not the case. Some counties have as little as 48 hours of early voting before the Jan. 31 primary. |
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FL: Bill would enforce law turning stadiums into homeless shelters on off days
By Toluse Olorunnipa, The Miami Herald
Tucked away deep in the annals of Florida law is an obscure statute about homeless shelters that could make opponents of taxpayer-financed sports arenas jump for joy. Call it a trick play. |
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GA: House Democrats to seek repeal of parts of immigration law
By Jeremy Redmon, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democratic state lawmakers say they will seek to repeal parts of Georgia’s tough new immigration enforcement law, complaining it is harming the state’s $68.8 billion farming industry. |
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HI: Technology, jobs focus of Abercrombie speech
By Staff, Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Monday that he is asking state lawmakers for $10 million to consolidate all of Hawaii’s state technology under one office, and for another $2.9 million for the state’s Broadband Initiative. |
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HI: Hawaii governor highlights need for teacher contract, early childhood education in speech
By The Associated Press, The Republic (Columbus)
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is using his State of the State address to push the union representing the state’s public school teachers to come up with a contract proposal. |
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HI: Abercrombie- Clean energy crucial to Hawaii’s survival
By Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Gov. Neil Abercrombie spent a lot of time talking about the importance of clean energy during his state-of-the-state address on Monday. |
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IA: Health reform exchange bill introduced
By Jason Clayworth, The Des Moines Register
A bill to create an Iowa health insurance exchange was introduced in the Senate Monday but will go nowhere unless the governor takes some initiative to assist with the effort, a key Democrat behind the effort said. |
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IA: Branstad — GOP should have said sooner Santorum won
By The Associated Press, The Muscatine Journal
Gov. Terry Branstad called it “a mistake” for Republicans to wait until late Friday night to declare Rick Santorum the winner of the Iowa caucuses, but said he respects the difficulty the head of the state party faced considering how close the vote was. |
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IA: Iowa Sen. Grassley’s Twitter account hacked
By The Associated Press, The Muscatine Journal
Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley is back in control of his Twitter account after someone hacked into it and sent messages to his nearly 34,000 followers. |
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IA: Supreme Court hears arguments over Branstad’s veto
By The Associated Press, The Muscatine Journal
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear arguments next month in a lawsuit over Gov. Terry Branstad’s line-item veto of a bill that closed 36 unemployment offices in the state. |
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IA: Iowa educators, officials spar over teachers’ time
By The Associated Press, The Muscatine Journal
Gov. Terry Branstad wants to give school administrators more time with teachers, but whether that time is best spent evaluating or coaching the instructors is a point of contention between educators and state officials. |
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IA: State senator admits to breaking campaign finance law
By Jason Clayworth, The Des Moines Register
A state senator has admitted he broke campaign finance law by paying for his dry cleaning with campaign money. |
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IA: Health care denied to Iowa HIV patients fuels insurance review
By Jason Clayworth, The Des Moines Register
Two state senators say they are reviewing options to either fire the administrators or shutter a $35 million state program charged with insuring Iowans with pre-existing conditions because of the program’s ongoing denial of coverage to an estimated 100 HIV-positive residents. |
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IA: Branstad — Problems shouldn’t derail Iowa’s caucus clout
By Rod Boshart, Sioux City Journal
Any problems that occured during the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses should not disqualify the state from its status in picking presidential nominees, Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday. |
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IA: Panel works to push education reform through Legislature
By Mike Wiser, Sioux City Journal
A House subcommittee continued to work its way through the governor’s education reform package Monday, taking up issues that included online learning, principal assistants and a state-run innovation fund. |
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IA: Branstad challenges electrical inspections for farmers
By Mike Wiser, Sioux City Journal
Gov. Terry Branstad said Monday that requiring farmers to have safety inspections done after performing electrical work is unduly burdensome and put his pen to an official objection. |
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ID: Idaho GOP in intense internal fight over redistricting
By John Miller, Spokesman-Review (Spokane)
Idaho’s dominant Republican Party on Monday deepened an intense internal fight, with the state GOP chairman and House speaker announcing they’d fired two of their own redistricting commissioners, at least in part because they hadn’t helped the party enough. |
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ID: Sex offenders to lawmakers- ‘Occupy’ is their home
By John Miller, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)
Occupy Boise protesters who have erected tents on state land across from the Capitol testified for more than two hours Monday, including two sex offenders who said a bill to evict them could leave them without shelter. |
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ID: Sen. John McGee- A Senate divided, and in full public view
By Staff, The Idaho Statesman (Boise)
For years, Idaho legislators have tried to keep their leadership elections and in-house discipline to themselves. |
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IL: IL lawmaker gives scholarship to ally’s daughter
By The Associated Press, Quad-City Times
State Rep. Robert Rita has awarded a four-year college scholarship to the daughter of one of his political allies, a Chicago alderman. |
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IL: Durbin — Prayers for Sen. Kirk after stroke
By The Associated Press, Quad-City Times
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin says he is shocked to learn that fellow Sen. Mark Kirk suffered a stroke over the weekend. |
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IL: Kirk’s family encouraged about his prognosis
By The Associated Press, Quad-City Times
Relatives of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk say they’re very encouraged by doctors’ prognosis after the Illinois Republican underwent surgery following a stroke. |
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IL: GOP Sen. Mark Kirk faces long recovery from stroke
By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois could lose full use of his left arm and experience facial paralysis after a weekend stroke that required emergency surgery, but his physician said Monday the prospects for a complete mental recovery are strong. |
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IN: A G.O.P. counterweight to Obama, but so far just in speech response
By Jonathan Weisman, The New York Times
The sight of Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana on national television is sure to raise wistful “if onlys” in a Republican establishment that had put the governor at the top of its wish list for a White House run. |
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IN: Land bill reaches Senate panel
By Lesley Weidenbener, Evansville Courier and Press
A Senate committee is set to take up legislation today that would create the Bicentennial Conservation Fund, an initiative from Gov. Mitch Daniels to boost the amount of protected land throughout Indiana. |
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IN: Indiana House committee considers sales tax cut for LIHEAP eligible
By Jacie Shoaf, Evansville Courier and Press
Low-income Indiana families could get a little extra help on their utility bills under legislation the House Ways and Means Committee considered Monday. |
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IN: Indiana Senate votes 28-22 for right-to-work bill
By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
The Indiana Senate has voted to approve the right-to-work bill that has prompted the legislative boycotts by House Democrats. |
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IN: Ind. House GOP blocks right-to-work referendum
By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
Indiana House Republicans have defeated Democrats’ efforts to put a right-to-work referendum on the ballot. |
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IN: Senate votes to restore right to resist police entry into home
By Dan Carden, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
The Indiana Senate approved legislation Monday intended to restore Hoosier self-defense rights in the wake of a controversial Indiana Supreme Court ruling. |
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IN: State’s right-to-work fight set to go national
By Dan Carden, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
Gov. Mitch Daniels’ national television appearance Tuesday, giving the Republican response to the president’s State of the Union address, will be followed on many stations by footage of Daniels saying he opposes a right-to-work law. |
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IN: Indiana Senate votes to ban nepotism, conflicts of interest in local government hiring
By Dan Carden, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
The Republican-controlled state Senate voted 39-11 on Monday to limit nepotism and conflicts of interest in local government employment. |
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IN: Ind. House Dems lose right-to-work referendum vote
By The Associated Press, Northwest Indiana Times (Munster)
Indiana House Democrats walked off the floor Monday after losing an effort to put a right-to-work measure aimed at unions before voters, possibly resuming an off-and-on boycott strategy aimed at derailing the measure for the second straight year. |
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KS: Audit finds Kansas Bioscience Authority’s former leader misspent funds, destroyed documents
By Dion Lefler, Wichita Eagle
OLATHE, Kan. — The former head of the Kansas Bioscience Authority misspent agency funds and destroyed documents on his computer that had been subpoenaed by a prosecutor investigating the agency, according to an in-depth audit of the state-funded authority. |
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KS: Crowd rallies to stop abortion in Kansas
By Brent D. Wistrom, Kansas City Star
Hundreds of people rallied at the steps of the Statehouse Monday in support of laws that would curtail or eliminate abortions in Kansas and provide information to women considering an abortion. |
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KY: Two Kentucky House members to seek state Senate seat
By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
Two Western Kentucky legislators said Monday that they will run this year for the 27th District seat in the state Senate. |
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LA: Teachers unions accuse Gov. Bobby Jindal of misleading and inflammatory rhetoric
By Jeff Adelson, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
Two teachers unions fired back at Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday, taking aim at his proposed education overhaul and accusing him of using misleading and inflammatory rhetoric to attack educators. |
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LA: Allstate seeks rate hikes
By Ted Griggs, The Advocate (Baton Rouge)
Allstate Insurance Co. wants to increase the rates for its 71,000 homeowner’s policyholders an average of 11.3 percent statewide and sister company Allstate Indemnity Co. has asked for an average of 5.9 percent increase for its 73,000 policyholders, according to separate filings with the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Allstate is the state’s second-largest insurer of homes. State Farm is Louisiana’s largest, with 301,000 homeowner’s policies. |
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MA: Scandal clouds Deval Patrick’s speech on the state
By Chris Cassidy, Boston Herald
While lawmakers sat on pins and needles awaiting pending indictments from the ongoing Probation Department patronage scandal — and his lieutenant governor faced his own political woes — Gov. Deval Patrick talked up criminal justice, health care and community college reforms in his sixth State of the State address, but offered no plan to end corruption on Beacon Hill. |
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MA: Patrick focuses on community colleges
By Noah Bierman and Frank Phillips, The Boston Globe
Governor Deval Patrick, speaking last night in his annual State of the Commonwealth address, proposed sweeping changes to the community college system, centralizing authority for 15 campuses and emphasizing job training. |
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MA: Critics — Mass. sentencing bill too costly
By The Associated Press, The Boston Globe
Critics of a Massachusetts sentencing bill are pressing lawmakers to ease some of the legislation’s tougher measures. |
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MA: Genzyme’s Framingham plant wins FDA approval to produce Fabrazyme
By Chris Reidy, The Boston Globe
Genzyme Corp., the Cambridge unit of French drug maker Sanofi SA, said that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its manufacturing plant in Framingham for the production of Fabrazyme, a treatment for Fabry disease. |
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MA: Warren Group — Mass. single-family home sales drop in December
By Chris Reidy, The Boston Globe
The volume of single-family home sales in Massachusetts fell 5 percent in December from a year ago, and condo sales took an even bigger hit, the Warren Group reported this morning. |
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MD: Group filing appeal of redistricting map
By Staff, The Capital (Annapolis)
Residents opposing Maryland’s congressional redistricting map said they’re appealing part of their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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MD: O’Malley introduces same-sex marriage bill
By Annie Linskey, The Sun (Baltimore)
Gov. Martin O’Malley introduced legislation Monday night to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland, presenting a bill to the General Assembly that aides said would offer broad protections for groups that would not want to perform or honor same-sex marriages. |
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MD: Ehrlich paid $168,000 for Schurick lawyers
By Michael Dresser, The Sun (Baltimore)
Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. used $168,000 of leftover campaign funds to pay for defense attorneys for Paul Schurick, his longtime aide who was convicted on charges of electoral fraud rising out of Ehrlich’s failed run against Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2010. |
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MD: O’Malley meets with Twitter followers in first ‘tweetup’
By Pamela Wood, The Capital (Annapolis)
The governor turned technology into an opportunity this morning to hear from constituents during his first “tweetup” at the State House. |
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ME: Maine Democrats blast LePage before State of the State address
By Eric Russell, Bangor Daily News
A day before Gov. Paul LePage is to deliver his first State of the State address, House and Senate Democratic leaders challenged him to “put aside ideology and extremism” and set a more positive tone for the year ahead. |
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ME: Rumors about MaineCare plan’s effects on children put to rest
By Jackie Farwell, Bangor Daily News
The LePage administration has no plans to cut services for children living in group homes, lawmakers deliberating the governor’s plan to overhaul MaineCare were told Monday. |
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ME: UMaine System freezes tuition; board urged to fix aging campus buildings
By Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News
The University of Maine System’s campuses are getting old and most of the buildings on those campuses will start showing their age soon if they haven’t already, according to a company that reviewed statistics on each UMS building. |
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MI: Snyder — Investing in roads now will pay off in future
By Tim Martin, The Associated Press, Lansing State Journal
Gov. Rick Snyder says it makes financial sense to start paying more to fix roads now rather than wait and face an even bigger annual repair bill in the future. |
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MI: Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette –Michigan has ‘enough casinos’
By Rob South, mlive.com
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office says he’s waiting to see how the city of Lansing plans to move forward with a proposed casino project announced today by Mayor Virg Bernero. |
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MI: Snyder to Highland Park parents — ‘I am not willing to take a chance with your children’
By Aaron Foley, mlive.com
Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday sent a letter to Highland Park residents, informing them of the public school district’s financial emergency and possible state intervention. |
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MI: Obama to address college affordability in University of Michigan speech
By Staff, The Ann Arbor News
Obama will speak at the U-M Al Glick Field House on Friday. A source familiar with the plan told AnnArbor.com that the speech is expected to take place at around 9:30 a.m. |
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MI: Michigan, Ohio lawmakers write to Obama about vacant home issue
By The Associated Press, Detroit Free Press
A bipartisan group of Ohio and Michigan members of Congress is asking President Barack Obama to help communities in the two states deal with abandoned and vacant homes. |
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MI: Michigan worker to sit with first lady during State of the Union speech
By Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press
A west Michigan worker who lost his job making furniture but found a new career through retraining will be sitting in first lady Michelle Obama’s box at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. |
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MN: Thinking locally as Legislature returns
By Jennifer Brooks, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minnesota government is a tangle of bureaucracies, jurisdictions and red tape that critics say can make it difficult for communities, schools and agencies to deliver services to those who need them. |
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MO: Senate debates workplace discrimination bill
By The Associated Press, Jefferson City News Tribune
Democrats in the Missouri Senate say a bill revising workplace discrimination laws would make it harder for people to prove the claim against employers. |
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NC: N.C. GOP primary could have meaning
By Rob Christensen and John Frank, The News & Observer (Raleigh)
North Carolina’s chances of influencing the Republican presidential primary increased slightly over the weekend – but it remains unlikely that the May 8 election will help determine the winner given its late date in the primary season, political observers said Monday. |
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ND: Sen. John Hoeven explains legislation to get pipeline approved
By Nick Smith, The Bismarck Tribune
Congress has the authority to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, according to a nonpartisan legal analysis. |
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ND: Alan Fehr seeking Senate seat
By Nick Smith, The Bismarck Tribune
Rural Dickinson resident and military veteran Alan Fehr will seek the Republican nomination for state Senate in District 36. |
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ND: North Dakota’s Clark nominated for federal regulatory board
By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press, Grand Forks Herald
President Barack Obama on Monday nominated North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark for an opening on a federal regulatory board that oversees natural gas pipelines, electric transmission lines and the reliability of the nation’s power grid. |
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ND: North Dakota Republican U.S. House candidates debate
By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press, Grand Forks Herald
Six North Dakota U.S. House candidates declared their support for spending cuts, dumping the new federal health care law and overhauling the income tax during a debate Friday sponsored by a group of conservative organizations. |
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ND: Minot flood recovery getting $1 million FEMA grant
By The Associated Press, The Forum (Fargo)
North Dakota’s congressional delegation says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing a $1 million grant toward flood recovery in Minot. |
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ND: Rural North Dakota GOP activist makes last-minute plea for more lawmakers
By Dale Wetzel, The Associated Press, The Forum (Fargo)
A former Ward County commissioner and Republican activist made a last-minute appeal Tuesday to increase the size of the North Dakota Legislature, saying it would help prevent rural districts from becoming too large under a new redistricting plan. |
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NE: Bruning makes Senate run official
By Don Walton, Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning remained singularly focused Monday on a campaign message of reducing the size and scope of government as he completed filing as a 2012 Republican Senate candidate. |
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NE: Robocall bill likely dead
By Staff, Lincoln Journal Star
A bill that would reduce the number of government agencies regulating political robocalls likely is dead for the session. |
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NH: O’Brien, Bettencourt back Tucker run for Republican National Committee seat
By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)
N.H. House Speaker William O’Brien and House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt announced their support today for Deputy House Speaker Pamela Tucker’s run for Republican national committeewoman. |
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NH: ‘View tax’ and value debated at hearing
By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)
State and municipal assessing officials pushed back on Monday against a bill that would eliminate the so-called “view tax” in calculating a property’s value. |
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NH: Pair of bills links gifts to school choice tax credits
By Staff, The Union Leader (Manchester)
Legislators introduced companion bills Monday to provide a state business tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations that help students move from public schools to private schools. |
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NJ: N.J. sports betting efforts begin
By Bob Jordan, Asbury Park Press
It won’t happen in time for Giants’ fans to make Super Bowl bets, but two New Jersey congressmen are introducing separate bills designed to allow the state to enter the sports betting market. |
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NJ: Sarah Palin says Gov. Christie made a ‘rookie mistake’ by attacking Gingrich
By John Reitmeyer, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called out Gov. Chris Christie today saying he made a “rookie mistake” when criticizing Republican presidential candidate New Gingrich over the weekend. |
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NJ: Christie- Gingrich has been ‘influence peddler’ during his career
By Jenna Portnoy, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
Gov. Chris Christie today kept up the assault on Newt Gingrich that he started Sunday on “Meet the Press” when he said the former Speaker of the House had “embarrassed” the Republican Party. |
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NJ: American Civil Liberties Union gives Gov. Christie mixed grades
By Jenna Portnoy, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
Gov. Chris Christie won relatively high marks from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey for how he’s handled freedom of religion and issues facing the gay community, but failing or near failing marks for freedom of speech, reproductive rights matters, open government and separation of powers matters. |
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NJ: Gov. Christie to hold Bridgewater town hall meeting this morning
By The Associated Press, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Gov. Chris Christie is headed to Somerset County for his third town hall meeting of the year. |
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NJ: N.J. Dems advance bills lifting parole requirements, job restrictions for convicted felons
By MaryAnn Spoto, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
Parole requirements would be eased for some prisoners and job restrictions lifted for convicted felons under a package of bills that Democratic sponsors said Monday would redirect state funds from incarceration to rehabilitation. |
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NM: Sarah Palin: Chris Christie’s ‘panties in a wad’
By MJ Lee, Politico
Sarah Palin has some advice for Mitt Romney surrogate Chris Christie: Don’t get your “panties in a wad” and say things you’ll regret later. The New Jersey governor made headlines over the weekend by calling Newt Gingrich an “embarrassment” to the Republican Party, but this rhetoric, according to Palin, was nothing more than a “rookie mistake.” |
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NM: Attorney- Tapes show Richardson mired in pay-to-play
By Jeri Clausing, Santa Fe New Mexican
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Transcripts of secretly recorded meetings about state investments during Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration show the governor was calling the shots on decisions that steered millions of dollars to a political supporter’s son, an attorney for a whistle-blower alleged Monday. |
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NM: Insiders led New Mexico investments, suit claims
By Dan Frosch, The New York Times
ALBUQUERQUE — A former financial adviser for the State of New Mexico told his partners at a secretly taped meeting that close associates to Bill Richardson, then the governor, controlled where they would invest the state’s money, according to a lawsuit. |
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NY: Overtime increases for state government
By Joseph Spector, Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester)
Overtime costs at state agencies grew 4.5 percent in 2011, with four state employees earning more than $100,000 in overtime alone, according to records from the state Comptroller’s Office. |
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NY: Renewed call for expanded DNA databank
By Leigh Hornbeck, Times Union (Albany)
If the Legislature passes the measure, New York would be the first state to take DNA samples from everyone convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. |
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NY: 4th R — Running out of money
By Scott Waldman, Tampa Bay Times
In the near future, some school districts are not going to be able to pay their bills. Even though schools will see a $805 million boost in aid this year, it’s not enough to ward off the dire times ahead for some, state Education Commissioner John King said at budget hearing Monday. |
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NY: Fracking foes push drilling ban
By Brian Nearing, Times Union (Albany)
Hundreds of opponents to natural gas hydrofracking descended on the state Capitol Monday, vowing to push for a total ban on such drilling and hinting they will make sure the issue is part of any future presidential run by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. |
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OH: Ohio fights, champions health law at same time
By Deirdre Shesgreen, The Cincinnati Enquirer
When it comes to federal health reform, the Kasich administration seems to be of two minds. |
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OH: Gov. John Kasich’s private jobs agency to control Ohio liquor profits
By Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Gov. John Kasich is shifting control of profits from Ohio’s lucrative wholesale liquor operation to his privately run job creation agency. |
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OH: Only 3 of 16 districts competitive in new map
By William Hershey, Dayton Daily News
Montgomery and Greene counties are part of something unusual in Ohio — a competitive U.S. House district. |
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OK: Ill will at center of allegations related to lawmaker’s compensation claim
By Staff, The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)
A workers’ compensation claim filed by state Rep. Mike Christian is an indictment of the system but also says plenty about the continued ill will between Christian and House Speaker Kris Steele. |
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OR: 1,000 hires exempt from state freeze
By The Associated Press, Statesman Journal (Salem)
Gov. John Kitzhaber’s top managers have approved more than 1,000 exceptions to a state government hiring freeze, most on the grounds of protecting public safety, since the freeze was ordered six weeks ago. |
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OR: Oregon Republican chairman comes up with a new elephant logo
By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian (Portland)
It seems like Oregon Republicans have tried just about everything to restore their old political dominance in the state, so why not try a new logo? |
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OR: Voters gripe about negative ads in Oregon congressional race, but signs are that they work
By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian (Portland)
Asked whether she had seen any of the hard-hitting TV commercials in Oregon’s special congressional race, Barbara begins to quiver with anger. |
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OR: Governor proposes consequence-free ‘achievement compacts’ to focus schools and community colleges on results
By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian (Portland)
Gov. John Kitzhaber and his education team are seeking the most specific step so far to change education in Oregon: They want the Legislature to require every school district and community college to sign a yearly “achievement compact” spelling out key results it will try to deliver. |
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PA: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett orders flags to half-staff for Penn State coach Joe Paterno
By The Associated Press, The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has ordered the state’s flags lowered to half-staff in honor of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno. |
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PA: Pennsylvania lawmakers honor late Joe Paterno with moments of silence
By The Associated Press, The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)
Pennsylvania state lawmakers are remembering late college football coach Joe Paterno, recalling his commitment to students. |
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PA: President Obama praises Joe Paterno, expresses condolences to family
By The Associated Press, The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has offered his condolences to the family of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who died Sunday of lung cancer. |
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RI: RI’s stubbornly high ‘underemployment’ rate stuck around 19%
By Ted Nesi, WPRI
The share of Rhode Island workers who are unemployed or too discouraged to look is falling – at a snail’s place. |
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RI: RI up to No. 42 in higher-ed funding after biggest surge in US
By Ted Nesi, WPRI
Rhode Island boosted public spending on higher education by more than any other state in the country this year after slashing it by double-digits during the recession, a new study shows. |
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RI: R.I. house sales, median prices fall in 2011 despite year-end uptick
By Christine Dunn, The Providence Journal
WARWICK, R.I. — A 10-percent jump in the number of houses sold in the fourth quarter was a positive end to another rough year for Rhode Island’s housing market, as foreclosures continued to drag median prices down in 2011. |
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SC: Politicos — Primary no long-term impact on Haley
By Seanna Adcox, The Associated Press, Spartanburg Herald-Journal
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s endorsement of Mitt Romney was hailed as a coveted prize in the presidential nomination contest that could help seal the deal for the Republican frontrunner. |
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SC: SC effort boosts women candidates
By Sarita Chourey, The Augusta Chronicle
Women with questions about running for office will now be able to log on for interactive campaign training offered by the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics. |
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SD: District critical of state ed plan
By Josh Verges, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)
Two weeks after Gov. Dennis Daugaard said South Dakota wasn’t getting enough bang for its education buck, the state’s largest school district is fighting back. |
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SD: South Dakota’s milk production up 1 percent
By The Associated Press, Rapid City Journal
South Dakota’s milk production rose 1 percent for the most recent quarter from a fewer number of cows. |
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SD: SD lawmakers reject bill to allow county recalls
By The Associated Press, Rapid City Journal
South Dakota lawmakers have rejected a measure that would have allowed people to seek recall elections to remove county commissioners from office. |
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SD: SD House rejects increase in court search fees
By The Associated Press, Rapid City Journal
The South Dakota House has rejected a measure that would increase search fees charged to people who want to see court records. |
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SD: Planned pregnancy needs role, too
By Pam S.F. Glenn, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)
As a certified nurse-midwife with over 25 years of practice, including providing prenatal care to pregnant women and delivering babies, I applaud Gov. Dennis Daugaard, the first lady and the Governor’s Task Force on Infant Mortality in their efforts to reduce infant deaths in South Dakota. |
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SD: A step closer to open government
By Staff, Argus Leader (Sioux Falls)
Three years ago, South Dakota’s elected leaders took an important step forward, setting a standard of openness in government record keeping. |
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SD: South Dakota lawmakers seek end to low mileage reimbursement
By Chet Brokaw, The Associated Press, Sioux City Journal
A House panel Monday recommended asking South Dakota voters to get rid of a 122-year-old constitutional provision that reimburses lawmakers only 5 cents a mile for their initial and final trips to and from the annual legislative session. |
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SD: Senate to vote on boosted controlled drugs list
By Veronica Zaragovia, The Associated Press
Despite innocuous names such as Happy Hour and Night Lights, a fast-growing family of drugs is landing more and more people in emergency rooms. Soon, users in South Dakota could find themselves in another institution: jail. |
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TN: Sen. Mae Beavers withdraws bill to ban judicial review
By The Associated Press, The Tennessean (Nashville)
Senate Judiciary Chairwoman Mae Beavers has withdrawn her proposal to strip Tennessee courts of the power to overturn laws enacted by the state legislature. |
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TN: Sen. Bill Ketron won’t run for Congress
By Sam Stockard, The Tennessean (Nashville)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Republican state Sen. Bill Ketron ended speculation Monday of a run for Tennessee’s newly drawn 4th Congressional District seat, largely because of family and financial considerations. |
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TN: TN businesses press for end of estate tax
By Chas Sisk, The Tennessean (Nashville)
Robert Doochin says his next step is fairly simple: After nearly half a century at the helm of American Paper & Twine Co., pass the business on to his three children. But with an estimated value of $10 million to $20 million, there’s one problem: the tax bill. |
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TX: Perry fundraisers discuss how to help Gingrich campaign
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., The Dallas Morning News
Two of Rick Perry’s top fundraisers are in discussion with Newt Gingrich about raising money for his presidential bid. |
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US: States waiting on SCOTUS could hamper exchanges
By Brett Norman and Jason Millman, Politico
Uncertainty over the fate of health reform, centered on the Supreme Court case and the presidential election, has led some states to adopt a wait-and-see approach that may make it impossible for them to meet Health and Human Service’s timeline for building their own insurance exchanges. |
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UT: Waddoups kicks off Utah Legislature with jab at D.C.
By Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune
When Senate President Michael Waddoups joined the Legislature back in 1987, Ronald Reagan was president, gasoline cost 89 cents a gallon and Michael Jackson was topping the music charts. |
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UT: Bill to ban e-cigarettte, hookah use in public places put on hold pending clarifications
By Marjorie Cortez, Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
Too many questions and concerns over a bill that would ban the smoking of e-cigarettes and hookah pipes in public places prompted a panel of lawmakers Monday to put the legislation on hold. |
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UT: Dems pay for ‘free’ public records; Lockhart wants to stick with big issues; taxing e-commerce
By Dennis Romboy, Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis stood outside the state’s legislative research office Monday holding a $5,000 check. |
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VA: Legislators look to fix redistricting dilemma
By Wesley P. Hester, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Now that Virginia legislators have approved a congressional redistricting plan, U.S. Senate hopefuls find themselves in a quagmire. To make the June 12 primary ballot, the state’s candidates for the U.S. Senate are required to gather 400 signatures from each of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts. The problem is that the new districts do not yet exist, and no one’s sure when they will. |
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VA: Va. GOP seeks crackdown on jobless benefits
By Wesley P. Hester and Jim Nolan, Richmond Times-Dispatch
What happens when the music stops? For some symphony musicians in Virginia, it’s time to collect unemployment. But now, Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, is sponsoring legislation that would deny active symphony orchestra performers unemployment benefits between orchestra seasons. |
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VA: Transportation chief gets an earful over tunnel tolls
By Bill Sizemore, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)
Reflecting anger among their constituents over the impending reimposition of tolls on two Hampton Roads tunnels, local lawmakers peppered Virginia’s transportation chief with critical questions Monday. |
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VA: Bills would enshrine adoption ‘conscience clause’
By Julian Walker, The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk)
A skirmish over the ability of gays to adopt or provide foster care to children looms in the General Assembly this winter. |
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VT: Lack of ice cover might be affecting the ecology of Lake Champlain
By Matt Sutkoski, Burlington Free Press
Fewer people around Lake Champlain are walking on water than they once did. Lake Champlain is freezing over less frequently and less extensively than in decades past. |
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VT: FairPoint says ruling will help it compete
By The Associated Press, Burlington Free Press
A decision by the board that oversees the rates and quality of service of the state’s public utilities is going to make it easier for Vermont’s largest landline telephone and Internet company to be more responsive to its customers, the president of the company’s local operations said Monday. |
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WA: Washington legislators pick up enough votes to legalize gay marriage
By Justin Runquist, The Oregonian (Portland)
Gay-marriage proponents on Monday secured enough support in the Legislature to soon make Washington the seventh state to legalize gay marriage. |
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WA: Gay marriage in Washington: Legislature has the votes
By Andrew Garber and Lornet Turnbull, The Seattle Times
Gay-marriage supporters Monday may have clinched the votes needed to pass a bill through the Legislature, but opponents said the fight’s far from over. |
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WA: Dems sucker punch McKenna on same sex marriage
By Joel Connelly, seattlepi.com
The state Democratic Party is celebrating the advance of same-sex marriage legislation in Olympia, bashing Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna’s journey of conscience as part of its effort to fuel Jay Inslee’s gubernatorial campaign. |
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WA: $1 billion legislative plan could put 25,000 people to work
By Brad Shannon, The News Tribune (Tacoma)
State lawmakers say talks continue on a more than $1 billion public-works package that could potentially put 25,000 people to work, many starting in the summer construction season just months away. |
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WA: Mary Margaret Haugen clinches Senate majority for gay marriage
By Jordan Schrader, The News Tribune (Tacoma)
The vote that all but guarantees the Legislature will vote to legalize same-sex marriage comes from Sen. Haugen, a conservative Camano Island Democrat who had been on the fence. |
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WI: Walker raises millions to fight recall effort
By Jason Stein and Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Gov. Scott Walker is raking in money at a pace not seen before in Wisconsin politics as he prepares to face the state’s first-ever gubernatorial recall, taking in more than $4.5 million over five weeks. |
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WI: Let recall election settle union issue
By Staff, La Crosse Tribune
The following editorial appeared in Sunday’s Wisconsin State Journal. |
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WI: Democrats report raising $394,000 since Dec. 10
By The Associated Press, La Crosse Tribune
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is reporting that it raised nearly $400,000 since Dec. 10. |
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WI: Status of state budget depends on method of measure
By The Associated Press, La Crosse Tribune
Wisconsin’s state budget is balanced-depending on the measure used to analyze it. |
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WV: Meth bill backers, pharmaceutical industry do battle
By Ry Rivard, Charleston Daily Mail
A Kanawha County lawmaker working to make a dozen popular cold and allergy remedies available only by prescription said supporters of the idea are engaged in “hand-to-hand combat” with pharmaceutical lobbyists. |
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WV: W.Va. lt. governor amendment proposed
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
West Virginia lawmakers plan to consider a constitutional amendment creating the elected office of lieutenant governor. |
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