Redstate

Posted at 10:38pm on May 14, 2008 LA Legislative Update

By Vladimir

RedStaters eager for a little good news might appreciate a couple of stories out of Baton Rouge, where the State Legislature is in its first Regular Session of the Jindal administration.

Tuition plan easily clears House

Following more than three hours of intense debate, the House of Representatives gave a 60-42 approval Tuesday to Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed $10 million private school tuition grant program for New Orleans public school students.

Posted in Bobby Jindal | State Politics — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 5:44pm on May 14, 2008 Ohio AG Marc Dann resigns

Pressured out by his own party

By Kevin Holtsberry

It seems that Marc Dann finally realized that the gig was up and he couldn't hang on:

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann resigned this afternoon, just hours after the inspector general’s office launched a raid on his office.

The embattled Democrat made the announcement in a joint appearance with Gov. Ted Strickland in the governor’s cabinet room, next to his Statehouse office. The governor called it a “sad day” for Ohio but said he is “pleased” Dann quit.

It's up to Strickland to appoint a successor until Ohioans vote in November on someone to fill out the final two years of Dann’s term. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has been among those mentioned as a possible successor.

Dann’s decision comes after a week and-a-half of increasing pressure to get Dann out of office, and a little more than five weeks after The Dispatch revealed sexual harassment complaints by two women employees against their supervisor in the attorney general's office, a longtime Dann friend.

Investigators descended on Dann’s offices in the Rhodes Tower shortly after 11 this morning, defying Dann’s legal arguments that they had no right to investigate his office.

The situation is thick with irony. Dann was one of the loudest critics of former Governor Bob Taft and hammered Ohio Republicans on the so called "culture of corruption" theme over and over. Surprised when his tactics worked, he found himself elected to a critical statewide office lacking the competence and leadership skills to do the job.

Now he finds himself forced to resign after articles of impeachment were filled against him by his own party and his office was searched by the inspector general in the aftermath of revelations that his office was rife with sexual harassment and improper relationships; including an affair between Dann and his scheduler. All Taft did was play golf with friends and fill out some paperwork wrong!

That old adage that you need to be loved or feared is applicable here. Dann's bombastic style and lack of judgment alienated even fellow Democrats. Lacking power or friends he soon found himself without a political card to play.

Ohio Democrats appreciate the fact that they have gained the power they have - they control four out of five statewide offices but the GOP controls the General Assembly - thanks to some screw ups by Republicans and an appearance of moderation and stability. There was no way they were going to let someone like Marc Dann put that at risk.

The netroots might take note that angry attack style politics is not how Democrats have found success in critical swing states. And if the party doesn't find you useful they will kick you to the curb without blinking an eye.

Posted in Marc Dann | Ohio | Scandal | State Politics — Comments (11)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:13pm on May 14, 2008 Splitting California

By Neil Stevens

Texas may hold the option of splitting into multiple states, but it's California that most needs broken up. Traditionally, the proposal has been a North-South split, but some of us have other ideas.

Via Paul Cella I came across this post by Jeff Culbreath reacting to a proposal to split California into three states. Both Culbreath and Phrelin.com focus heavily on geography in taking the traditional north-south split, but adding a third state, separating the northern coastline from the rest of the proposed Northern California.

I think this is a bit self-serving, and misses where the meaningful split is.

Read on...

Posted in California | culture | State Politics — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:35pm on May 13, 2008 Ohio Dems Start Impeachment Against AG Dann

By Kevin Holtsberry

It seems lies and misleading statements related to sexual harassment charges are now an impeachable offense. Or at least Ohio Democrats think so:

House Democrats filed articles of impeachment this morning against Attorney General Marc Dann, charging him with nine counts relating to a sexual harassment scandal that has led to widespread calls for him to resign.

Posted in Impeachment | Marc Dann | OH | State Politics — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:01pm on May 11, 2008 Moonbat Ballot Initiatives

By NightTwister

University of Colorado - Denver graduate student Page Penk has gained approval to gather signatures for a ballot initiative, according to Face The State.

Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: Shall there be a sex strike by the women only, January 1st, 2009, for one day in length, in support of the wife's and parents of U.S. combat troops receiving pay for support services rendered to the military, through an amendment to the Colorado Constitution?

Posted in State Politics — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:34am on May 11, 2008 Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann to Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius-Refrain From Communion.

By Tim Schieferecke

Thank goodness the Archbishop of Kansas City finally came out publicly to decry Governor Sebelius's unfettered support for abortion here in Kansas. He had earlier asked her to refrain from communion but found out she has continued to partake in it. He is quite serious, and said that he hopes she will comply and "not require from me any additional pastoral actions."

In the local Catholic paper 'The Leaven', Archbishop Naumann wrote: "The spiritually lethal message, communicated by our governor, as well as many other high-profile Catholics in public life, has been in effect: 'The church's teaching on abortion is optional!'"

Posted in State Politics — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:42pm on May 7, 2008 California Republicans open primaries

By Neil Stevens

I was sitting here, reading my sample ballot for the June primary election here in California, and noticed something startling. It says here that nonpartisan voters may request a ballot for any of the following parties: Democratic Party, Republican Party, American Independent Party. This is a change. In the past, independents could only vote in the Democratic and AI primaries.

Clearly, the California Republican Party has changed the policy. I assume this happened at the last convention in San Francisco, during which my attention was focused on the platform fight.

This is disappointing to me. As things stand, conservative stalwarts in the party do the state a great service by leveraging their Constitutional prerogatives and limiting the tax-and-spend desires of the Democratic majority. If we allow ourselves to be watered down by 'independents,' then we could destroy that, and the Democrats would be able to run amok raising taxes, supermajority requirement or no.

I, for one, personally prefer we go back to having truly closed primaries. Even if "moderating" on spending, taxes, and culture would net us a few more seats, it could cost us what limited success we do have in Sacramento.

Posted in California | open primaries | primaries | Republicans | State Politics — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:33am on May 7, 2008 Kentucky health reform won't come from Washington D.C.

By David Adams

cross-posted on Bluegrass Policy Blog

While everyone is watching gas prices go up, health insurance reform is dying as a federal issue. Look at this article, which promotes a socialized medicine scheme as a viable bipartisan compromise.

Posted in State Politics — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:36am on May 6, 2008 Why Won't Sonny Perdue Sign H.B. 881? This really is for the children and not in a socialist anti-freedom way.

By Erick

Georgia House Bill 881 is legislation in Georgia to help improve the conditions in which charter schools grow. Given the mess in Clayton County, Georgia, the first school district in the nation to lose its accreditation in over a decade, and the kids who are stuck down there, I am really surprised Governor Sonny Perdue hasn't signed this legislation -- it's just common sense reform to prevent local school boards like Clayton County from shutting down charter schools without cause and the legislation provides adequate funding and freedom for charter schools.

Right now Georgia has 71 charter schools with about 30,000 students across the socio-economic spectrum. These schools are currently out performing state averages on standardized tests despite receiving about 30% less than typical public schools. And charter schools don't even get facilities funding.

Under H.B. 881, funding will following children. If a child goes to charter school, the money goes with the child there. If the child goes back to public school, the money goes with the child back. It forces public and charter schools to compete, and competition improves schooling.

Twenty-six Georgia school systems have failed to meet federal and state standards. Clayton County is losing its accreditation. Charter schools are a great alternative.

H.B. 881 is a common sense reform to help foster charter schools. Too often local school districts try to make things extreme difficult for charter schools, while ignoring the need to actually improve local public schools.

It's time for the Governor to sign off on H.B. 881.

Please join me in calling Governor Perdue at (404) 656-1776. Ask him to sign H.B. 881. If you don't want to call, you can contact him via the web by going here.

Posted in Charter Schools | Georgia | School Choice | Sonny Perdue | State Politics — Comments (0)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 4:09pm on May 5, 2008 "Pro-Life" Kansan Leadership Hopes to Kill Real Pro-Life Legislation

By Erick

Kansas is a very pro-life state. And Kansas has pro-life Republican leaders in the state's General Assembly. But, those pro-life leaders are not actually committed to the pro-life cause -- they just like to call themselves "pro-life."

The legislature adjourns tomorrow and if the residents of Kansas don't act today or in the morning, the legislature might fail to pass the Comprehensive Abortion Reform Act ("CARA").

The legislation would clean up fraud and abuse in the Kansas abortion industry. It would require abortion clinics to report cases of child abuse and incest. Likewise, it would require full disclosure of the risks of abortions before one can be had, as well as giving women the option of hearing the child's heart beat before choosing to kill the child.

Governor Kathleen Sibelius vetoed the original CARA, but when the Senate held the veto over-ride, a key Senator was not in town that day. The Senate President held the veto over-ride in bad faith, knowing that it would fail.

The sponsor re-drafted the legislation to meet the Governor's concerns and the pro-life coalition in the Kansas legislature is working to get it passed.

Standing in the way are House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, Senate President Steve Morris, and Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt.

If you live in Kansas you can and should take advantage of Kansans for Life's action center and demand passage of the CARA.

Or, you could just call 1-785-296-0111 and demand to speak to Melvin Neufeld, Steve Morris, and Derek Schmidt. Tell them to either pass CARA or stop calling themselves "pro-life."

Posted in Kansas | Melvin Neufeld | State Politics | Steve Morris — Comments (19)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:59am on May 5, 2008 Obama: poor Southerners all look alike to me

By David Adams

cross-posted at Kentucky Progress

Just noticed a press release from the Obama campaign saying that former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus will be campaigning today and tomorrow across Kentucky for Obama.

Two things: I guess former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones was too busy battling off banking regulators.

Posted in State Politics — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:45pm on May 3, 2008 Fighting Eminent Domain Abuse in California [Updated]

My view: Yes on 98, No on 99

By Neil Stevens

The fight continues to protect Californians from the abuses of civil liberties authorized by the Supreme Court in Kelo v. New London. Proponents of our civil rights against theft of property have placed on the June ballot Proposition 98. Unlike the last Proposition 98, which began our disastrous budget problems by placing hard lower limits on school spending growth, this one is from the good guys. The new Proposition 98 is a proposed state Constitutional amendment that would place sweeping restrictions on eminent domain abuse statewide, and ensure that "just compensation" is provided even when the takings occur.

However, the forces of big government are not quick to give up. Corrupt city and county governments have in turn put on the ballot Proposition 99, another proposed amendment. Masquerading as an anti-eminent domain law, Proposition 99 would not even have helped in the Kelo case, so narrow are the limits on government set.

Read on... Updated below the fold

Posted in Arnold Schwarzenegger | California | Eminent Domain | girly man | Kelo v. New London | State Politics — Comments (11)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:59pm on May 3, 2008 The Quid Pro Quo Tale Of My Enviro-Wacko Kansas Governor

By Tim Schieferecke

Once upon a time, there was an over-reaching Governor from Kansas named Kathleen Sebelius. She sure loved the clean Kansas air. The wind flowing through her well coiffured hair made her long for windmills that could produce "green" power. She was in charge. She would will them to be.

There existed on the wind-blown praries of Western Kansas a place called Holcomb. Not many of her serfs lived there, but she knew what was best for those that were. She decreed "it is my duty to protect the interests of Kansas citizens in every corner of this great state. Kansans count on me to look at each decision carefully, weighing not only the immediate benefits of today, but the costs and impacts of tomorrow." Her peasants sighed. The jobs that would come from an expanded 1400 megawatt coal fired power plant seemed so close. With her though, they were so far away.

Posted in State Politics — Comments (20) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:51am on May 3, 2008 I think that says it all

By Neil Stevens

There's a pretty nasty primary race going on where I live, between Assemblyman John Benoit and Russ Bogh for the Republican nomination to the State Senate (37th district). This is a Republican district, so the primary is the election that counts. I've been pretty much ignoring it, though, waiting to decide until I vote in June.

However, today I got a piece of mail that I think says it all. Bogh put out an attack flyer on Benoit, criticizing him for voting to cut over $1 billion in spending, spending we certainly can't afford. The Republicans in Sacramento, being vastly outnumbered, have one job: fight for spending and tax cuts during the budget fight, using the leverage given to the minority by the state Constitution.

If Bogh is going to be a spender in Sacramento, I think it's likely that in June I will be favoring Benoit for State Senate.