IL AG: Joe Birkett is back! July 2, 2009
Posted by rslcpol in : Attorney General News, Videos, Blog , add a commentA 28 year prosecutor is running to be Illinois’s top cop. From Joe Birkett dot com:
I’ve made the decision to remain a prosecutor and to run for the Office of Illinois Attorney General in 2010.
I invite you to watch the brief video below in which I make my explain my decision. I will continue to aggressively engage with you online to build a statewide organization that provides each and every citizen a voice in Illinois government, once and for all.
We’d love to have you join our effort and invite to sign up to get involved or to contribute to our campaign.
NH: Sununu Not Running for US Senate Seat
Posted by rslcpol in : Blog , add a commentFrom UnionLeader.com:
Several Republicans are already rumored to be interested in the seat, among them New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who has refused to comment on published reports that she is being encouraged to run by party leaders; BAE Systems executive Rich Ashooh; former Gov. Steve Merrill; former congressman Charles Bass; and Nashua businessman Fred Tausch, who has been gaining name recognition through ads for his STEWARD political action group. Manchester lawyer Ovide Lamontagne told independent political reporter James Pindell yesterday that he was “more likely than not” to run.
While itching to sign up supporters, such candidates constantly had to fend off questions about Sununu, said David Carney, a Republican strategist who has worked with Sununu but is not associated with any 2010 campaign. Yesterday’s announcement puts those questions to rest.
“It’s a liberating thing for most people contemplating running,” Carney said. “This had to happen so people could go beyond their circle of family and friends.”
Coming to a State Near You: Higher Taxes
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom the Christian Science Monitor:
More than half of US states are responding to budget challenges with an answer that’s often unpopular with their residents: tax hikes.
In some cases, the levies are modest. Still, six states are increasing personal income taxes, 11 are raising sales taxes, and eight are boosting rates paid by businesses.
The wide geographic scope of the tax increases is an indicator of how much pressure an economic slump has put on state finances. And many of the states are ones that avoided significant tax boosts earlier this decade, the last time the United States was in recession. These include Florida, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Idaho.
SC: If Lt. Gov Becomes Governor, Who’s the Next LG?
Posted by rslcpol in : Lieutenant Governor News , add a commentFrom the Post and Courier:
If Sanford steps down and is replaced by Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, then the state’s constitution appears to call on McConnell to replace Bauer as lieutenant governor.
In effect, the Charleston Republican would be demoted from his top Senate leadership post to a part-time constitutional officer, and it’s a change he doesn’t want.
“I don’t think any resignation by the governor is imminent, at least based on the latest stuff I’ve heard,” McConnell said Wednesday. “It does present problems for me, there’s no question about that.”
Track NY Stimulus Spending Online
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom WNYC:
As of Wednesday, all three statewide elected officials have websites that help track stimulus funding, but none make New York’s stimulus spending completely transparent. WNYC’s Andrea Bernstein has more.The newest addition to the transparency canon comes from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, whose www.openbooknewyork.com site allows users to track stimulus spending down to the name of the contractor — but there’s a hitch, where money passes through local governments — and billions of dollars do — the money trail stops at the name of the city or county.
CA Attorney General Brown Mentioned in Michael Jackson’s Will
Posted by rslcpol in : Attorney General News , add a commentFrom SFGate:
California State Attorney General Jerry Brown found out today he was included in that very exclusive crowd who got a personal mention in pop star Michael Jackson’s will — right along with daughter Paris, sons Prince Michaels I and II, ex-wife Debbie Rowe and singer Diana Ross.
Even Brown’s office is a little perplexed, now that Jackson’s 2002 will has been released in its entirety on The Smoking Gun. There, see it for yourself: Jackson specified Brown to be among the few to be contacted on his last will and testament, which says that his assets should be placed in a trust and managed by his mother, Katherine. AG Brown is mentioned along with her, the will’s trustees, the singer’s children, ex-wife, and Diana Ross as those who may be included or involved in the Michael Jackson Family Trust, or are “beneficiares..who are required to receive notice.”
Iowa Taps Savings to Balance Budget
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom the DesMoinesRegister:
Vastly different estimates were released Wednesday on how Iowa ended its fiscal year this week, but all projections indicate that Gov. Chet Culver will have to use cash reserves to balance the state budget.
Some political leaders say deep cuts to state services will be required, but others say the state has enough financial cushion to deal with the budget shortfall without cuts being needed.
The Legislature and Culver crafted a budget that assumed the state would have a positive balance of almost $45 million on June 30.
But Culver’s staff released information Wednesday that said the state would have $58 million less on hand at the end of the fiscal year than budgeted.
RI: Lt. Governor Out of Governors Race
Posted by rslcpol in : Lieutenant Governor News , add a commentFrom Projo.com:
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts will not run for governor in 2010, according to a surprise announcement Wednesday afternoon that squelched widespread speculation the Cranston Democratic would compete for Rhode Island’s most powerful elected post.
The move comes just two months after the first-term lieutenant governor unveiled a high-profile “campaign team” to explore a gubernatorial bid.
Roberts, 52, offered no direct explanation for her decision, saying only that she would seek another term in her current office, while “pledging to use her position to make health care affordable for every Rhode Islander.”
Texas Lt. Governor Dewhurst Talks Politics July 1, 2009
Posted by rslcpol in : Lieutenant Governor News , add a commentFrom Statesman.com:
Either way, if the leaders’ predictions hold true, the special session could be one of the shortest since a three-day special session in June 1987.
“The Senate will get it done in less than three days,” Dewhurst said in a wide-ranging interview Tuesday. “I’m actually shooting for having the bills come back from committee late tomorrow afternoon, and either passing them tomorrow night or Thursday morning.”
In a series of meetings before the session begins, Dewhurst said, senators are working to resolve issues and get their questions answered before the opening gavel falls at 10 a.m.. “They may have the (three) bills virtually memorized by (this) morning,” he joked.
NC: State Avoids Budget Clash
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom the Winston-Salem Journal:
The state Senate avoided a showdown on the eve of the new fiscal year yesterday by agreeing to the House version of a temporary spending plan to run North Carolina government while a final budget gets worked out.
The Senate’s 35-13 vote to accept the House plan sent the stopgap spending measure to Gov. Bev Perdue, who signed it into law several hours before the old fiscal year ended at midnight.
The temporary plan sets spending parameters that Perdue and state agencies must follow through July 15. The Senate had wanted no expiration date but conceded to the deadline, which House Democrats argue will put pressure on negotiators working out the final budget.
Florida: Facebook and Twitter Raise Issues for Officials
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom TBO.com:
Mayor Pam Iorio has a Facebook page. So do council members Tom Scott and Linda Saul-Sena. And the city just started “tweeting” information to its citizens.
Increasingly, elected officials are relying on social networking Web sites to reach out to constituents, disseminate information and discuss the affairs of local government.
But engaging the public in cyberspace raises legal issues, Tampa officials are learning.
In a memo to council members, City Attorney Chip Fletcher cautioned that the use of these sites for city business is covered by Florida’s open meeting and records laws.
CA AG Brown Takes Lead in Democrat Primary Poll
Posted by rslcpol in : Attorney General News , add a commentFrom East Bay Express:
State Attorney General Jerry Brown has received a big boost in the polls thanks to the decision by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to drop out of next year’s governor’s race, according to the Chron. With the race for the Democratic nomination now between Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the former Oakland mayor has opened up a commanding 20 point lead. It appears that most of Villaraigosa’s supporters have moved over to Brown.
According to recent polls, Brown led Newsom 33 to 20 percent before Villaraigosa pulled out. But now Brown leads 46 percent to 26 percent. The primary is still nearly a year away, but Brown’s lead, and his widespread name recognition, will be tough to overcome. However, there is still some hope for San Francisco’s mayor.
TN: Democrat State Rep Cobb Resigns
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom the Times-Gazette:
State Rep. Curt Cobb has been named Bedford County Clerk and Master by 17th Judicial District Chancellor J.B. Cox and has resigned from his House seat.
Cobb began his new position today; he said this morning that he submitted his letter of resignation from the General Assembly on Tuesday.
Cobb, a Democrat, had been elected four times to the House seat, most recently last year, when he fended off a challenge by Republican Barbara Blanton.
“I had to make some decisions,” Cobb said, “but I think I made the best one for my family. I still get to serve the people of Bedford County.”
OK: Several New State Laws Take Effect
Posted by rslcpol in : State Legislature News , add a commentFrom the Daily Times:
Several new laws were passed in the 2009 legislature which take effect soon.
One is the increase in tag renewal late fees. Other new laws taking effect Wednesday increase penalties for a variety of crimes and ban the tattooing of eyeballs.
Motorists late on renewing their license plate tags used to pay a penalty of 25 cents a day after a 30-day grace period. That is increasing to $1 a day — up to $100.
The legislation was enacted during the final days of the 2009 Legislature to raise $14.4 million for rural infrastructure projects.
WA AG’s New Site Guides Public on Grabbing Records
Posted by rslcpol in : Attorney General News , add a commentFrom Attorney General Rob McKenna:
Open government advocates have a new resource at the Attorney General’s Office. The AGO has launched “Unredacted: Uncovering the truth about Public Records and Open Public Meetings.”
“Citizens contact us when, for example, they believe that a city or county council meeting has been held illegally behind closed doors,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. “Our new site provides a roadmap for pulling back the curtain to find out what elected officials are up to.”
This new resource provides the public with a glimpse into the life of AGO Open Government Ombudsman Tim Ford as he answers questions about the state’s public records and open meetings acts.
