State News Shot

Maine: GOP Dominated State Legislature to Convene

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:47 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:47

After the historic Republican takeover, the State Legislature is poised to get to work.

From Bangor Daily News:

Mainers are hopeful for action — and in no mood for partisan bickering — as the state’s first Republican-majority Legislature in decades prepares to launch its two-year session this week.

“If they can get along, they might be able to take care of some of the problems” such as job creation and keeping young people from leaving the state, said retiree Judith Marinetti of Gardiner. “They have to cooperate.”

The newly elected House and Senate members will be sworn in Wednesday morning after two days of preliminary gatherings to acquaint members with their new roles and to nominate candidates for attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state.

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Georgia Secretary of State to Create Election Reform Panel

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:41 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:41

From the Augusta Chronicle:

Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that he will appoint a non-partisan panel to recommend election reforms.

He made a brief announcement at the beginning of the monthly meeting of the State Elections Board that he chairs. He told the five-man board and the local elections officials in the audience that the panel will hold hearings around the state for input.

“My thought is we need to look at this as reform but also how can we reduce costs in elections to our counties and to the state,” he said.

Kemp said he would appoint the panel in coming weeks and that it would meet throughout the year. It will make its recommendations for legislation during the 2012 session.

He said he would consult with the major political parties and legislators about who should serve, but he declined to commit to giving a seat to minor parties.

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NY: Republicans Predict they’ll Take Control of Senate

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:37 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:37

Although votes are still being tallied, Republicans look to be in good position to take back the Senate.

From the Wall Street Journal:

“It’s more important than ever that we get back to governing,” Skelos said, a stab at Democrats’ intent to make sure every vote is counted in the disputed races. “Senator-elect Grisanti will be a strong voice for the 60th Senate District in Albany, and we are eager to get right to work with him on Western New York’s priorities.”

The concession was first reported by the Buffalo News.

Recounts continue for the seats held by Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson of Long Island, who is fighting off Republican challenger Jack Martins, and Westchester Democrat Suzi Oppenheimer in a race against Republican Bob Cohen.

Republicans predict they will have a 32-30 majority.

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GOP State Legislature Victory – Win that keeps on Giving

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:35 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:35

From 2theadvocate.com:

While not as high-profile as the battle for Congress, the 2010 battle for state legislatures was also a big win for the GOP — and that’s a victory that is expected to keep on giving.

The reason: Legislatures are in charge of drawing new district lines for the U.S. Congress, once the data from the 2010 census becomes available. Partisans want to use that power to draw lines favoring their party.

In the South, Republicans took control of both chambers of the Alabama and North Carolina legislatures, bringing the party’s total to seven of 13. Control is split in Kentucky and Virginia.

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NY: A Change in the Senate

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:34 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:33

From BuffaloNews.com:

The drama appears over in the 60th Senate District—except for Sen. Antoine M. Thompson’s concession speech. Opponent Mark Grisanti’s more than 500-vote lead has held through the counting of paper ballots.

Unless Democratic Party lawyers can pull a rabbit out of a hat, the senator’s tin ear for taxpayer concerns has finally done him in. Voters were not sufficiently wowed by the 102- page book, produced at taxpayer expense, heralding his legislative wonders.

Thompson’s race was one of three Senate contests statewide to reach cliff-hanger status. With the smoke clearing in all three, Democrats in Albany are bracing as though they narrowly lost Senate control to the Republicans, 32-30. (In the two other races, Republican Jack Martins appears to have defeated Democratic incumbent Craig Johnson of Nassau County, while in Westchester County, Democratic incumbent Suzi Oppenheimer appears to have held off Republican challenger Bob Cohen.)

Two things to watch for now:

First, the Democrats will have to shed some patronage jobs. Thompson’s staff numbers between 10 and 20.What to do with those faithful? They’ll swim to other patronage posts at local governments, agencies and authorities—jobs to keep them in formation for future election seasons.

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Maine: New Faces in the Legislature Learn the Ropes

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:25 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:25

A slew of new Republicans learn the ins and outs of the State Legislature in Maine.

From Kennebec Journal:

New lawmakers — some totally new to legislative service and others who took a break or switched chambers — began four days of training Monday that will teach them about the state budget, what’s in the law library, what ethics rules apply to them and what’s going on in other states.

“I’m looking forward to everything about the whole process,” said Rep.-elect Deborah Sanderson, R-Chelsea. “There’s so much to absorb at once.”

Unlike the first round of training that took place shortly after they were elected, these sessions would be more policy-oriented, said David Boulter, executive director of the Legislative Council.

“This week will be a little more substantive,” he said.

The 53 nonincumbent House members out of a total of 151 — and 14 nonincumbent senators out of 35 — started the day in their respective chambers to get some lessons in legislative etiquette.

In the House, one new member wanted to know when he would be assigned a seat. Majority Republicans are still working on that, but would likely be done by the end of the day, said House Clerk Millie MacFarland, who will be leaving legislative service now that Republicans have taken over the chamber.

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Not Over Yet: 13 Dems from 5 States have defected to Republican Party so far

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:20 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:20

We may see yet more Democrats leaving their party in the weeks ahead.

From Cleveland.com:

Staggering Election Day losses are not the Democratic Party’s final indignity this year.

At least 13 state lawmakers in five states have defected to Republican ranks since the Nov. 2 election, adding to already huge GOP gains in state legislatures. And that number could grow as next year’s legislative sessions draw near.

The defections underscore dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party — particularly in the South — and will give Republicans a stronger hand in everything from pushing a conservative fiscal and social agenda to redrawing political maps.

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Is NY Democrats hope for retaining Majority in Senate Over?

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:12 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 02:12

From NYDailyNews.com:

One day after telling reporters it was premature to consider giving up, Democratic state Sen. Antoine M. Thompson this morning officially conceded his race against Democrat-turned Republican Mark Grisanti.

“I thank the residents of the 60th Senatorial District for allowing me to serve them for four years – a duty that I took very seriously and an experience for which I am extremely grateful,” Thompson said in a statement. “I thank the many community partners who I’ve had the pleasure.”

Thompson’s defeat means the Republicans now control 31 Seats and the Democrats have 29, with two races – one in Westchester and one in Nassau County – undecided. Should the GOP win one of the two, they will win back the majority they lost in 2008.

State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer (D-Westchester) currently holds a slim 325 vote lead over Republican bob Cohen with about 1,000 affidavit and emergency ballots left to be counted, according to Senate Democrats, who remain confident that Oppenheimer’s lead will hold up.

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Democrats lose Senate Seat in New York; Results in two other races still being counted

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 01:56 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 30 November 2010 01:56

Is the Democrat’s majority in the New York Senate slipping away? This new development certainly helps Republicans.

From the Wall Street Journal:

The Buffalo News reports that state Sen. Antoine Thompson has conceded defeat in a race that’s one of several involving recounts that will decide which party controls New York’s Senate.

The Democrat’s decision means Republican Mark J. Grisanti will represent the 60th state Senate District in Buffalo beginning in January.

Two other recounts continue.

Democrats won a 32-30 majority two years ago after decades of Republican rule.

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Oregon’s Split House May Help with Redistricting

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 02:52 Written by rslcpol Monday, 29 November 2010 02:52

Thanks to Republican gains, folks are optimistic the lines will get redrawn by the legislature and not the Secretary of State or Democrats by themselves.

From Oregonlive.com:

“I actually think it is more likely they can get it done than when there is partisan control” of both chambers, says Secretary of State Kate Brown, who will redraw the legislative lines if lawmakers and the governor can’t agree. Congressional lines will be drawn by state or federal courts if legislators can’t do it.

With both parties primed to work together from the start, says Brown, a former legislator, there may be less of the suspicion that accompanies a plan drafted by lawmakers of only one party.

Until the November election, Democrats were confident they would have the opportunity to totally control the redistricting if they could hold the governor’s office. They did that when Democrat John Kitzhaber won the governor’s race, but Republicans picked up six seats to gain a tie in the House.

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