Category: State
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Lori McCann appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives
Governor Brad Little (R) appointed Lori McCann (R) on May 17 to represent District 6A in the Idaho House of Representatives. The seat has been vacant since April 29, when former state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger (R) resigned. McCann’s professional experience includes working as a professor at Lewis-Clark State College, where she was also the…
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17 states have announced dates to end pandemic-related federal unemployment benefits
On May 4, 2021, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) became the first governor in the U.S. to announce his state would opt out of all federal unemployment benefit programs related to the coronavirus pandemic by June 30. Gianforte said, “Incentives matter, and the vast expansion of federal unemployment benefits is now doing more harm than…
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Flynn wins special election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 22
Pennsylvania State Senate District 22 held a special general election on May 18. Martin Flynn (D) won the special election with 51.5% of the vote and defeated Chris Chermak (R), Marlene Sebastianelli (G), and Nathan Covington (L). The filing deadline passed on March 29. The special election became necessary when John Blake (D) resigned to…
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Nevada legislature refers minimum wage amendment to 2022 ballot
In November 2022, Nevada voters will decide on an amendment to increase the minimum wage for all employees to $12 by 2024. The state legislature voted on Friday to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would change the current minimum wage, which is set at two different rates depending on whether the employee…
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Special primary election to be held in Alabama state House district
A special Democratic primary will be held on May 25 for District 78 in the Alabama House of Representatives. A Democratic primary runoff, if necessary, will take place on June 22. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Loretta Grant (R) in the special general election on September 7. Terance Dawson, Kenyatté Hassell, Roderick…
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Tennessee Representative Mike Carter dies
Tennessee state Representative Mike Carter (R) died from pancreatic cancer on May 15, 2021. Carter first won election to the 29th District on Nov. 6, 2012. He was subsequently re-elected four times, most recently in 2020. Governor Bill Lee (R) said in a post on Twitter, “I will miss Mike Carter who was a leader,…
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Checks and Balances: Biden EO spurs removal of publicly available guidance document portals
The Checks and Balances Letter delivers news and information from Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Project, including pivotal actions at the federal and state levels related to the separation of powers, due process and the rule of law. This edition: In this month’s edition of Checks and Balances, we review the removal of publicly accessible guidance document…
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A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, May 18-22, 2020
Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout that spring, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today. Here…
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Montana governor signs bill adding restrictions to the initiative process
On May 14, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed House Bill 651 into law. Both chambers of the legislature passed the bill along party lines in the last week of April. All Republicans but one were in favor and all Democrats were opposed. House Bill 651 changes the laws governing the initiative process in Montana…
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Mississippi Supreme Court overturns 2020 medical marijuana initiative, says the state’s initiative process can’t be used
On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to overturn Ballot Measure 1 (Initiative 65). The medical marijuana initiative was approved by 74% of voters at the 2020 general election. The court ruled that the initiative should not have been placed on the ballot because the initiative petition did not comply with the…