Articles for Legislative Leaders

Newsom pulls anti-crime ballot measure, capping Democrats’ chaotic response to Prop. 47 reform
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Newsom pulls anti-crime ballot measure, capping Democrats’ chaotic response to Prop. 47 reform

LA Times  

In a wild turn of events, Gov. 47” that reflected a “balanced approach.” He said it would “put public safety first without reverting to outdated and ineffective policies of decades past.” But it fundamentally sought to do something that Newsom and legislative leaders had said for months that they did not want to do — ask voters to change Proposition …

Support Reform Democratic Ballot Measure Democrats Voters Ballot
California Democrats agree to delay health care worker minimum wage increase to help balance budget
6 months ago

California Democrats agree to delay health care worker minimum wage increase to help balance budget

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Democrats in California have agreed to delay a minimum wage increase for about 426,000 health care workers to help balance the state’s budget. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders is part of a larger plan to close an estimated $46.8 billion shortfall — the second year in a row the nation’s most populous state has had a multibillion-dollar …

Health Budget Workers California Democrats State Billion
Secret negotiations heat up in Sacramento as budget, ballot deadlines loom
6 months, 1 week ago

Secret negotiations heat up in Sacramento as budget, ballot deadlines loom

LA Times  

Gavin Newsom is in private negotiations with legislative leaders over how to close the budget deficit. “We’ve had 72 public hearings,” Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel said after the vote. “One of the things I’ve learned the hard way is talking too publicly about a process that’s unfolding in real time,” Newsom said at his budget presentation in May. Gabriel, …

Insurance Budget Negotiations Legislation Democratic Healthcare Workers California
New change coming to retail theft legislation could splinter support for tough-on-crime initiative
6 months, 2 weeks ago

New change coming to retail theft legislation could splinter support for tough-on-crime initiative

LA Times  

Legislative leaders plan to fast-track bills to crack down on retail theft in California and are using the package of reforms to pressure supporters of a proposed tough-on-crime initiative headed for the November ballot to abandon that effort. Two people with knowledge of the meeting said legislative leaders are moving forward with a hard-ball approach that would make voters choose …

Support Retail Theft California Voters Ballot Measure
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urges lawmakers to pass budget as session kicks off
8 months, 1 week ago

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders urges lawmakers to pass budget as session kicks off

Associated Press  

Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday urged lawmakers to pass her $6.3 billion budget proposal that boosts spending on a new school voucher program. “That’s because as revenues climb and costs slow, we’ll have room to cut taxes.” Sanders has not proposed tax cuts during this session, and legislative leaders have said they don’t expect to look at any reductions until …

Social Media Budget State House Session Sanders Lawmakers
Wisconsin’s embattled elections leader is legally holding the position, judge rules
11 months, 1 week ago

Wisconsin’s embattled elections leader is legally holding the position, judge rules

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge ruled Friday that the state’s top elections official is legally holding her position and that the commission that appoints her is under no obligation to name a new leader, handing yet another defeat to Republicans who have tried to oust her. “I agree with WEC that the public expects stability in its elections system …

Elections Wisconsin Senate Republican State Vote Commission
North Carolina’s governor sues lawmakers for a measure that eliminates his elections board authority
1 year, 2 months ago

North Carolina’s governor sues lawmakers for a measure that eliminates his elections board authority

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper sued state Republican lawmakers on Tuesday over a measure that eliminates his authority to pick elections board members, while voting rights groups filed yet another lawsuit challenging provisions of a law that they contend will discourage young people from voting. The governor’s lawsuit, filed in state court against House Speaker Tim …

Law Elections Court Voting Lawsuit North Carolina State
Judge blocks 2 provisions in North Carolina’s new abortion law; 12-week near-ban remains in place
1 year, 2 months ago

Judge blocks 2 provisions in North Carolina’s new abortion law; 12-week near-ban remains in place

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — A federal judge on Saturday blocked two portions of North Carolina’s new abortion law from taking effect while a lawsuit continues. U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles issued an order halting enforcement of a provision to require surgical abortions that occur after 12 weeks — those for cases of rape and incest, for example — be performed only …

Law Pregnancy Abortion North Carolina Republican Eagles Weeks
North Carolina governor vetoes bill that would take away his control over election boards
1 year, 2 months ago

North Carolina governor vetoes bill that would take away his control over election boards

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed Republican legislation Thursday that would take away his powers to choose State Board of Elections members and give them to legislative leaders as the 2024 campaign cycle begins in the closely divided state. In his veto message, Cooper said the legislation “could doom our state’s elections to gridlock” by promoting …

Elections North Carolina Senate Republican House Republicans Bill
Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states
2 years, 5 months ago

Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states

Associated Press  

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. Background: Under current law, Kansas does not ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, when they’re allowed only to save a patient’s life or to prevent “a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily …

Law Georgia Florida Supreme Court Abortion Reproductive Rights States
Newsom, lawmakers want California Constitution to explicitly protect abortion rights
2 years, 7 months ago

Newsom, lawmakers want California Constitution to explicitly protect abortion rights

LA Times  

Governor Gavin Newsom at a press conference in February. Although most legal analysts have considered the issue settled in California, Newsom and legislative leaders said Monday they believe the state must go further to protect abortion rights. Politics Roe vs. Wade will be overturned, purported leaked Supreme Court draft suggests A draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that …

Supreme Court Abortion Constitution Court Rights California Right
Washington Senate OKs bill on governor’s emergency powers
2 years, 10 months ago

Washington Senate OKs bill on governor’s emergency powers

Associated Press  

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Nearly two years after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that authorizes legislative leaders to terminate an emergency after 90 days if the Legislature is not in session. The Legislature has no authority to terminate a declared state of emergency, but …

Emergency Orders Leaders Washington Senate State Legislature
Reeves: No date for legislative session on medical marijuana
3 years, 2 months ago

Reeves: No date for legislative session on medical marijuana

Associated Press  

Tate Reeves said Wednesday he is working with legislative leaders on details about how the state will pay for a proposed medical marijuana program. House and Senate leaders want to enact a medical marijuana program to replace an initiative voters approved in November. Hosemann and Gunn said last week that they want Reeves to set a special session soon because …

Medical Medical Marijuana Reeves Session Marijuana Gunn Legislative Leaders
NY lawmakers wrap up 2021 work, but could return
3 years, 6 months ago

NY lawmakers wrap up 2021 work, but could return

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York lawmakers wrapped up this year’s legislative session this week, but legislative leaders said they may return. The Democratic-led Legislature spent passed several criminal justice bills in the last week that advocates have pushed for years, including a bill making it harder to incarcerate people for minor parole violations New York would raise the age of …

Assembly New York Senate State Democrat Bill York
Kansas GOP leaders preparing to end COVID state of emergency
3 years, 6 months ago

Kansas GOP leaders preparing to end COVID state of emergency

Associated Press  

TOPEKA, Kan. — Top Republican legislators served notice Friday that they’re preparing to end Kansas’ state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic and accused Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of having no “exit strategy.” Eight top leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature, six of them Republicans, approved a shorter extension of the state of emergency than Kelly wanted, until June 15. Officials …

Emergency Leaders Kansas Republican State End Democrat
Californians with low incomes to receive $600 checks under $9.6-billion COVID-19 economic package
3 years, 10 months ago

Californians with low incomes to receive $600 checks under $9.6-billion COVID-19 economic package

LA Times  

Gavin Newson, pictured this week at a vaccination site, said Wednesday that he and state legislative leaders have agreed on a package of COVID-relief measures. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they have agreed to provide low-income Californians a $600 state stimulus payment to help them weather financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic, part of a $9.6-billion economic …

Economic Small Businesses California Tax Relief State Covid Million
Cuomo administration ‘froze’ over nursing home data requests
3 years, 10 months ago

Cuomo administration ‘froze’ over nursing home data requests

Associated Press  

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aide told Democratic lawmakers that the administration took months to release data revealing how many people living at nursing homes died of COVID-19 because officials “froze” over worries the information was “going to be used against us.” Republicans who term the comment admission of a “cover-up” are now calling for investigations …

Data Democratic Administration New York Nursing State Democrat
Cuomo Administration 'Froze' Over Nursing Home Death Rate Data Requests
3 years, 10 months ago

Cuomo Administration 'Froze' Over Nursing Home Death Rate Data Requests

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top aide told Democratic lawmakers that the administration took months to release data on the coronavirus death toll among nursing home residents because officials “froze” over worries the information was “going to be used against us.” Republicans who term the comment admission of a “cover-up” are now calling for …

Death Data Democratic Administration New York Nursing Democrat
Karnataka Legislative Council Deputy Chairman SL Dharme Gowda commits suicide
3 years, 11 months ago

Karnataka Legislative Council Deputy Chairman SL Dharme Gowda commits suicide

Op India  

On Tuesday, Deputy Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, SL Dharme Gowda, was found dead in Kadur in Chikkamagaluru. #Breaking | DY Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, SL Dharme Gowda, found dead near Chikmagalur. pic.twitter.com/qFNe3jkHPY — TIMES NOW December 29, 2020 Dharme Gowda was upset about being manhandled by Congress, say reports Quoting the driver of Dharme Gowda, News 18 reported, …

Congress Council His Family Legislative Gowda Legislative Council Karnataka Legislative Council
Cooper sues to alter powerful NC government rules panel
4 years, 3 months ago

Cooper sues to alter powerful NC government rules panel

Associated Press  

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. Cooper’s lawsuit in Wake Superior Court says the governor “lacks no meaningful control over” the panel, even though it is “indisputably” an executive agency. The commission’s current composition “allows the legislature to interfere with and undermine the executive branch’s authority to establish policy through rule-making,” the governor’s office said in a memo about the …

Lawsuit Republican State Governor Cooper Legislative Leaders Hise
California legislative leaders ask courts to keep coronavirus eviction ban in place
4 years, 4 months ago

California legislative leaders ask courts to keep coronavirus eviction ban in place

LA Times  

California’s legislative leaders are asking the state’s Judicial Council for more time before renter evictions resume during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they are facing “an impossible decision” between rushing legislation and leaving millions of tenants unprotected. In a letter sent Wednesday, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said that timeline would create two-and-a-half weeks of “chaos” …

Eviction State Covid Legislature Newsom More Time Evictions
Bribery scheme implicating Madigan revives term limits talk
4 years, 4 months ago

Bribery scheme implicating Madigan revives term limits talk

Associated Press  

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — When federal prosecutors unveil a bribery scheme in the state Capitol that points a finger at the House speaker, and the speaker has been in charge for 3 1/2 decades, it’s natural that some would turn to a popular but contentious solution: Term limits. Jim Edgar and political-reform activist, has long opposed term limits in favor of …

Speaker Senate Republican House Democrat Term Republicans