USAPP Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in US state blogging. Click here for our weekly roundup of national blogs

Gilson, Chris

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blogs.lse.ac.ukhttp://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2016/01/30/florida-works-to-keep-death-penalty-idahos-minimum-wage-measure-fails-and-why-are-people-sending-mops-to-chris-christie-us-state-blog-roundup-for-23-29-january/New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Credit; Gage Skidmore (CreativeCommons BY SA)Florida works to keep death penalty, Idaho’s minimum wagemeasure fails, and why are people sending mops to ChrisChristie?: US state blog roundup for 23 – 29 JanuaryUSAPP Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in US state blogging. Click here for our weekly roundup ofnational blogs. NortheastOn Wednesday this week, Maine’s Pine Tree Politics praises the state’s Governor, Paul LePage for abandoning thisyear’s State of the State address. They comment that the ‘specialness’ of the event has been eroded in Maine andthat the speeches have lost their meaning, impact and value.Moving south, NH Labor News writes this week that even though seven out of ten minimum wage workers in theGranite State are women, the state’s Republican US Senator, Kelly Ayotte voted against a Congressional measure toincrease the minimum wage to $10.10 because of pressure from the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperityadvocacy group.In Vermont this week, VTDigger says that GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman has criticized Governor PeterShumlin’s recent proposals to raise revenues by taxing dentists and doctors and for not doing more to curb the state’sexpenditures.State of Politics reports that New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposals to introduce paid-family leave havehad a lukewarm reception in the state’s Assembly. They say that Assembly members aren’t that keen on Cuomo’splan because they believe that their version would be a better one.People are sending mops to New Jersey Governor ChrisChristie writes PolitickerNJ this week. Christie’scomments of “You want me to go down there with amop?” earlier this week to a woman in New Hampshirewho asked him why he wasn’t in his home state tosupervise recovery efforts from winter storm Jonas hasled to his constituents’ largesse with cleaning-products.In the Keystone State, PoliticsPA says that the StateHouse has launched impeachment proceedings againstthe state’s embattled Attorney Kathleen Kane.  Kane isfacing charges of perjury and obstruction of justiceconcerning an alleged campaign to leak secretinformation.SouthOn Thursday this week, Delaware Liberal reports that in the First State a state Senate Bill to increase the minimumwage to $10.25 in 2020 has passed, but not without amendments; the original plan to link further increases past 2020with increases to the Cost of Living Adjustments did not make it through the Senate.It’s not been a great week for race relations in the Peach State. Better Georgia says that not only was a top official inthe state’s Department of Education fired for posting racist, homophobic and Islamophobic comments on Facebook, astate Representative has now defended the KKK in a newspaper interview.Continuing south to Florida, Saint Peters blog writes that state legislators have taken steps to ensure that theSunshine State continues to preserve the death penalty. The move comes in response to a recent US Supreme Courtdecision that the state’s death penalty procedure is flawed because it allows judges not juries to decide on deathsentences. The new legislation will require that a majority of jurors recommend that a judge imposes the deathpenalty.Credit: Stuart Seeger (Flickr, CC-BY-2.0)Wednesday sees Mississippi’s Y’all Politics discuss the politics of the state’s flag. They say that much has changedsince voters opted to keep the current flag in a referendum in 2001, and that whether or not the current flag bestrepresents citizens of the Magnolia state is up for debate.Meanwhile Graft Lies & Politics of Louisiana says that while the state already has the sixth lowest tax rate in thecountry, the business community has heavily criticized new Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards’s tax proposalswhich would address the state’s ‘fiscal disaster’.Moving west, Arkansas blog says that State Senator Jason Rapert has had a falling out with Wikipedia editors overhis ‘less than neutral’ edits to his own page. Rapert has apparently threatened legal action over his Wiki page,something that seems to have gone down like a lead balloon with the site’s editors.Midwest This week in Michigan, eclecta blog writes that the state’s Governor, Rick Snyder has put Richard Baird in charge ofresponding to the ongoing Flint water crisis. They say that Baird has been linked to numerous scandals includingbeing accused of illegal lobbying, and are ‘astonished’ that Snyder would appoint someone with such a sordid historyto what it is a critical position.Heading over to Illinois, Capitol Fax reports that Chicago’s Mayor, Rahm Emanuel has stated this week that thestate’s Governor, Bruce Rauner is ‘his own worst enemy’ after Rauner criticised him, and that Emanuel has said thatRauner should do more to address the problems that face the entire state. This week Rauner also delivered theannual State of the State address. Progress Illinois says that the critics have commented that the Address sidestepsthe state’s blaring fiscal problems and the numerous casualties of the state’s ongoing budget impasse.Iowa is in the national spotlight this week, with voters going to the polls in the Iowa Caucuses which will mark theCredit: Carol VanHook (Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA)formal beginning of the presidential primary nomination process. Blog for Iowa says that Iowans take their first in thenation status with a great deal of seriousness, and that many people who are planning on attending the caucuses arehave been having deliberations for months. Staying inthe Hawkeye State, The Iowa Republican commentsthat with jobs and economic growth recovering at theslowest rate in decades, working Iowans are asking,‘what economic recovery?’.Moving on to South Dakota, Dakota Free Press saysthat the state’s Legislature is considering a petitionwhich would eliminate the petitioning process forcandidates with money. The new bill would mean thatrather than having to obtain 1 percent of the votes castfor their party’s gubernatorial candidate, petitionerscould just send 1 percent of the salary for the office they are seeking (as low as $60 for the legislature), which wouldput them on the ballot.West and Pacific On Friday, Colorado Peak Politics looks ahead to the state’s legislative agenda for 2016. New measures include a billwhich would loosen restrictions on home brewing in the Centennial State, but they say that there are still many ‘dumblaws’ they would like to see rewritten.Blog for Arizona says this week that proposals to introduce the ‘Top Two’ primary to the Grand Canyon State areintended to ‘demolish’ Democrats there, even in districts which have large Hispanic populations that have traditionallyvoted for the Democratic Party.Heading up to Idaho, Eye on Boise says that a state Senator has refused to schedule a hearing or an introductoryone on minimum wage legislation, citing a lack of political support in the legislature. The bill would raise the state’s$7.25 an hour minimum wage to $8.50 in July next year, and $9.75 the following year, as well as raising the minimumwage for tipped workers.Moving west to Oregon, Blue Oregon says that this week’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day shouldbe the last one in which the Beaver State ranks dead last in participation. They comment that Oregonians don’t claimthe EITCs to which their entitled to the tune of $124 million.Down in the Golden State, Fox & Hounds reckons that despite recent comments from Governor Jerry Brown that thestate will do more to plan for its fiscal future, this year’s $171 billion budget proposals could lead to a $29-43 billiondeficit in 2020 if another recession hits. Still in California, Flashreport argues that government unions are destroyingthe state because of their political power and massively unfunded liabilities which currently stand at over $250 billion. Featured image: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Credit: Marc Nozell (Flickr, CC-BY-2.0)Please read our comments policy before commenting .Note:  This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of USAPP– American Politics and Policy, nor ofthe London School of Economics.Shortened URL for this post: http://bit.ly/1PIGIWeCC BY-NC 3.0 2015 LSE USAPP

Florida works to keep death penalty, Idaho’s minimum wagemeasure fails, and why are people sending mops to ChrisChristie?: US state blog roundup for 23 – 29 January

Florida works to keep death penalty, Idaho’s minimum wagemeasure fails, and why are people sending mops to ChrisChristie?: US state blog roundup for 23 – 29 January

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