State News Shot

Republicans Now Have Majority in the LA House

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:43 Written by rslcpol Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:42

Another lawmaker leaves the Democrats! For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans have the majority in the Louisiana House.

From thenewsstar.com:

State Rep. Noble Ellington of Winnsboro has given the Republican Party its first majority in the Louisiana House of Representatives since post-Civil War Reconstruction after leaving the Democratic Party late Friday afternoon.

Ellington’s switch gives the Republicans a 53-52 edge in the House. Democrats still control the state Senate with 20 seats compared to 18 for Republicans.

“It’s historically significant, but the truth is I’ve been a conservative for my entire career, so it won’t affect the way I vote,” said Ellington, who represents District 20.

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OH: Despite Strong Showing in Poll, New AG Says He’s Not Interested in Running for Senate

Last Updated on Friday, 17 December 2010 02:52 Written by rslcpol Friday, 17 December 2010 02:52

Republican Mike DeWine is focused on being the Attorney General of Ohio.

From the Columbus Dispatch:

There will be no rematch between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Mike DeWine for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

DeWine, who was elected Nov. 2 to a four term as Ohio attorney general, called to make that crystal clear.

“I am planning on being attorney general. I am not running for U.S. Senate.”

DeWine was in the Senate for 12 years until Brown defeated him in 2006. Talk about a rematch was spawned this week by a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling which showed DeWine and Brown tied in a hypothetical rematch, each with 43 percent. This afternoon, PPP released a survey showing that DeWine would be the first choice among Ohio Republicans to take on Brown in 2012.

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Now a Felon, Democrat can’t vote on Election Day but can remain a legislator

Last Updated on Friday, 17 December 2010 02:36 Written by rslcpol Friday, 17 December 2010 02:36

There’s something wrong about someone getting convicted of a felony, barred from ever running for office again, but remaining in office until the next Election Day.

From statesman.com:

As a convicted felon, he now can’t legally run for office. And he can’t vote on Election Day.

But state Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores, the Palmview Democrat who was sentenced to five years of probation earlier this week on felony ethics charges, remains a legislator in good standing in the Texas House.

He’s still entitled to his $600-a-month, taxpayer-paid salary as a legislator.

The reason: There’s no law or rule that prohibits convicted felons from serving in the House if they are convicted while in office.

The situation has some lawmakers and watchdog groups shaking their heads in disbelief.

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NH: Dems Under Fire for Criticizing Republican’s Religious Speech

Last Updated on Friday, 17 December 2010 02:29 Written by rslcpol Friday, 17 December 2010 02:29

If you want to see the speech, click through the link.

From UnionLeader.com:

Cornerstone Action president Kevin Smith accused the Democratic Party of “religious bigotry.”

Smith said the party’s “mischaracterization” of “Bates’ faith represents the height of hypocrisy for a party that supposedly prides itself in being tolerant of other’s beliefs. The NHDP owes Rep. Bates and the hundreds of thousands of Christians in this state an apology for his truly offensive and ignorant remarks.”

Smith added, “Mr. Kirstein ought to re-read the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and realize all people are guaranteed the freedom of religion, whether he agrees with their beliefs or not.”State Republican Party spokesman Ryan Williams said Thursday he was flooded with media calls on the dispute.

He said Bates “is only expressing his personal religious conviction at a prayer event. And the Democrats are trying to belittle and demean him because of it. They should apologize.”

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Texas AG Argues Health Care Suit in Florida

Last Updated on Friday, 17 December 2010 02:24 Written by rslcpol Friday, 17 December 2010 02:24

From KVUE.com:

A federal judge in Florida on Thursday heard arguments that the Obama administration’s health care law is unconstitutional.

Texas joined Florida’s lawsuit against the federal government, so Attorney General Greg Abbott traveled to the Sunshine State today to make arguments on the state’s behalf.

Nineteen other states including Texas, Michigan, Mississippi, and Louisiana, joined with Florida in its lawsuit. Their argument: if the federal government can be allowed to require Americans to buy health insurance, what is to keep them from requiring Americans to purchase other healthy items, even broccoli?

“This is the biggest encroachment upon our freedom that Congress has ever levied and if Congress has the power to force Americans to go out and buy something, Americans will lose their freedom,” said Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott.

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NY: Democrat Majority Leader and his Son indicted on embezzlement Charges

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:13 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:12

Another story for DemsBehavingBadly…

From lohud.com:

Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada and his son were indicted Tuesday on charges that they stole more than $500,000 from the Bronx clinic they run, prosecutors announced.

The federal indictment from outgoing Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said that Espada, the Bronx Democrat, and his son, Pedro Gautier Espada, embezzled money from the Soundview Health Clinic that the elder Espada founded in 1978.

Cuomo said taxpayer money that went to Soundview was used as Espada’s personal piggybank, including for Broadway shows, baseball games, home repairs and meals.

“This is a powerful message today that when we say we’re going to clean up Albany, we are serious and we will be effective in that pursuit,” Cuomo told reporters in a conference call. “The days where Albany politicians can victimize the people of this state are over.”

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MI: Outgoing Secretary of State to join Airport Board

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:11 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:10

From mlive.com:

Michigan’s outgoing Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land will return to her Kent County roots next year by joining the board that governs policy at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Kent County Commissioners are expected to officially appoint Land to the board in January. She will serve as the citizen replacement for outgoing 76-year-old Chairman John Van Laar, who has held the spot for 15 years and been on the board for 35.

Land said she was attracted to the position because of her interest in improving customer service at airports, like she has as Secretary of State branches. She also said the security issues at airports fit well with her background and experience in creating enhanced drivers license and personal identification cards that let people re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and 17 Caribbean nations in compliance with stricter government regulations for land and sea border crossing

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Republicans in PA look to cut costs

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:07 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:07

Lawmakers look to give up state fleet cars and require health care contributions. Not just talking the talk but walking the walk.

From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Republicans who will control the state House in January neared agreement yesterday on a plan to give up state fleet cars, pay toward their health care benefits, and curb per diem abuses.

Lawmakers said it’s a sign they’re ready to work with Gov.-elect Tom Corbett, the Shaler Republican who campaigned to rein in lawmakers’ perks. Corbett suggested reducing the car fleet, requiring contributions for health care and establishing more accountability for per diems, the flat undocumented payments for lawmakers’ overnight stays. The daily rate for Harrisburg trips is $157.

“We want to end what is perceived as abuse,” said Stephen Miskin, the House Republican spokesman.

Corbett’s television ads during the fall campaign drew attention to the costs, but Miskin said House Republicans have been working on the issue for years.

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Kentucky Gets it’s first Republican Attorney General Candidate

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:04 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 16 December 2010 02:04

Check out the interview with Hopkins County Attorney Todd P’Pool.

From CN2 Politics:

After filing his paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office at 10:20 a.m., P’Pool addressed the media and first explained the origins of his unusual name.

He said his family name was originally Pettypool but it was reduced to a shorthand version of P’Pool in the early 1800s.

P’Pool, 37, is a University of Kentucky graduate and was the first Republican since the Reconstruction Era elected to county-wide office in Hopkins County when he won in 2006.

He was a key player in the construction of the Wingshadow Lodge, a branch of Teen Challenge, which is a tax-exempt, faith-based organization that allows men fighting drug addiction to live and work at the facility outside of Dixon in western Kentucky.

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FL AG’s Lawsuit Against Obamacare Raises Questions

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 December 2010 01:54 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 16 December 2010 01:54

From tampabay.com:

The score is now 2 to 1.

Two judges have said the federal health care law is constitutional. This week in Virginia, a third judge ruled it was unconstitutional.

This morning in Pensacola, Florida and 19 other states will go before yet a fourth federal judge with yet another challenge to the law.

No matter what, everybody expects the whole thing to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Still, this week’s ruling in Virginia proved that the case is not a slam-dunk either way — and it is already a partial vindication for our state’s Republican attorney general, Bill McCollum.

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