USApp Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in U.S. state blogging

Gilson, Chris

LSE Research Online

blogs.lse.ac.ukhttp://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2015/04/11/new-yorks-campaign-finance-loophole-florida-u-turns-on-medicaid-while-montana-accepts-and-south-dakotas-coming-minimum-wage-fight-us-state-blog-round-up-for-4-10-april/New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Credit; Pat Arnow) CC-BY-SA-2.0)New York’s campaign finance loophole, Florida U-turns onMedicaid while Montana accepts, and South Dakota’s comingminimum wage fight: US state blog round up for 4 – 10 AprilUSApp Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in U.S. state blogging. Click here for our weeklyroundup of national blogs.NortheastOn Wednesday, Maine’s Pine Tree Politics comments that revenue sharing scheme – which redistributes staterevenues among cities and towns – has failed. They say that rather than falling as the scheme intended, municipaltaxes’ share of revenue has actually increased dramatically, and explain that revenue sharing also drives spendingup, which in turn necessitates higher property taxes.Heading south to the Green Mountain State, VTDigger writes this week on the Vermont Legislature’s deliberationson consolidating schools and eliminating local school boards. They comment that the school issue splitsVermonters along a social divide that has existed since the state’s founding between ‘Uphillers’, descendants ofthe farmers who settled hillside farms and ‘Downhillers’, who are descended from the professional classes whosettled the state’s valleys.On Tuesday, New Hampshire’s Miscellany Blue introduces us E. Davison Massey, a 72-year old retiree living inan affluent suburb of Chicago, who last year spent $250,000 to elect liberty-leaning candidates to the statelegislature. They put Massey’s donation in the context of increasing spending from Republican Super PoliticalAction Committees in states such as New Hampshire.In Rhode Island this week, RIFuture reports that the state spent more than $5.4 million on transport and textbooksfor students who attend private and parochial schools. They say that there is now a debate in the state legislatureover such subsidies on private school education, with many lawmakers believing them to be sacrosanct, whileGovernor Gina Raimondo wants to see them halved.The Lonely Conservative says that New York GovernorAndrew Cuomo’s ‘Start-Up NY’ project, which aimed to createemployment, has only produced 68 jobs, at a cost of $28million, something which they term is an ‘epic fail’. Staying inthe Empire State, the Brennan Center for Justice lobbies thisweek for the New York state legislature to close the ‘LLCloophole’ whereby Limited Liability Companies are able togive hundreds of thousands of dollars (often anonymously) indonations to candidates because they are classified by NewYork’s Board of Elections as individuals. They argue that if theBoard simply classifies these LLCs as corporations, then thiswill help to limit the influence of special interests and reducecorruption.SouthOn Sunday, Blue Virginia looks at recent commentary thathas suggested that the state’s Democratic Governor, TerryMcAuliffe, is ‘being chummy’ with GOP state legislators. They say that, because of his term limit, McAuliffe has avery different set of motivations compared to his fellow state Democrats, and that he is very likely to face aRepublican-dominated state legislature for the remainder of his term.Heading south to the Sunshine State, Wonkblog says on Monday that Florida’s GOP Governor, Rick Scott, hasmade a U-turn on supporting the expansion of Medicaid in the state. They comment that Scott’s change of heartis not all that surprising, given the ongoing opposition to the expansion among many state legislators. Staying inFlorida, Saint Peters blog reports this week that the state’s war on marijuana cultivation was a success last year,with $95 million worth of plants seized.On Friday, Something Like the Truth writes that Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal, may be about to ‘wreck’ thestate with a religious freedom bill, akin to those that have recently caused controversy in Indiana and Arkansas.They say that by backing such a bill, Jindal is undermining the state’s economy, as such bills have been badlyreceived by business leaders.Moving west, the Arkansas Times reviews the 90th Arkansas legislature, saying that while the state’s poor did notget a tax break from Governor Asa Hutchinson, the rich received a 33 percent reduction in the top rate of tax oncapital gains.On Wednesday, Texas’ Burnt Orange Report comments that the state’s Democrats must take the lead in cleaningup the GOP’s scandals in the state. They say that Democrats must make a bigger issue of ethics reform in thestate given the increasing concern over cronyism and corporate influence, such as the 21CT contract scandal thatsparked the cancellation of a $90 million contract extension.Midwest This week Ohio’s Plunderbund argues that Governor John Kasich model for economic recovery is a poor one.They say that Kasich’s pursuit of supply-side economics has meant that it still has yet to recover the total numberof jobs lost to the 2007 recession.The big news out of the Midwest this week was the victory of incumbent Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel over hismore liberal challenger, Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia. National Journal writes that Emanuel is at the forefront of Americanmayors who are redefining what progressive means by focusing on job creation via public-private partnershipsand restructuring the city’s school systems.Moving west to Missouri, Hit & Run reports this week that municipal elections in Ferguson, Missouri, where blackteenager Michael Brown was killed by a police officer last year, has seen a doubling of turnout, meaning thatminorities will get better representation.On Monday, Freak Out Nation says that Kansas’ state senate is set to approve restrictions on welfare recipientswhich are among the most draconian in the country. They say that those on welfare will be unable to get morethan $25 a day, and would be prohibited from spending their benefits at liquor stores, pools and even cruise ships,under a law which has been sent to Governor Sam Brownback’s desk.Heading north to South Dakota, The Democratic Truth writes this week on the upcoming fight over the state’sminimum wage. They say that voters approved an increase to $8.50 last fall, but the state’s Republicans havepassed an exemption which sets a separate minimum for employees under 18 of $7.50 an hour. State Democratsand unions are throwing their weight behind a campaign to repeal the exemption via another referendum whichwould go on the 2016 ballot.In neighboring North Dakota this week, the state legislature is currently considering a new committee which wouldoversee suing the federal government over regulation, reports Say Anything blog. North Dakota businessescurrently sue the government themselves to get regulations changed, but the new fund would help coordinatethese efforts, and prevent single suits from small operators setting policy for entire industries.West and Pacific On Friday, PoliticusUSA reports that the Republican-controlled Montana House has voted to approve theexpansion of Medicaid in the state, after the Democratic caucus joined with 13 defecting Republicans. They sayJohn and Cindy McCain Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr, CC-BY-SA-2.0)that the bill would expand coverage for up to 46,000 low income Montanans.Colorado’s The Spot writes this week that a committee in the state’s Senate has killed a ban on gay conversiontherapy for minors. They say that state Senate Democrats are dismayed over the move, and will introduce the billagain next year.In New Mexico, Progressnow NM gives an overview of ‘5 unbelievable vetoes’ made by Governor SusanaMartinez during this year’s legislative session. These include a veto on $65,000 for science, technology,engineering and math programs administered by the state’s agriculture department, one on a bill that would haveallowed home deliveries of beer and wine, and which would have allowed hemp research in the state.Tuesday sees Outside theBeltway report that long-servingSenator John McCain will berunning for a 6th term as Senatorfor Arizona. They say thatMcCain has insisted he is up forthe task, despite the fact that hemay face a primary challengerfrom the right.This week also saw negotiationsin the Idaho State House andSenate over a transportation bill.Eye on Boise says that there hasbeen agreement on loweringregistration fees for somevehicles, but not on a gas tax.Heading down to the GoldenState, Fox & Hounds writesWednesday that the recent package of bills from California Democrats which aim to help and protectundocumented immigrants in the state will do little to help solve their poverty problems. They argue that Californianeeds to do more to provide middle class jobs by cutting taxes and changing regulations on businesses, as wellinvesting more to create more manufacturing jobs.Featured image credit: MPD01605 (Flickr, CC-BY-SA-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, norof the London School of Economics.Shortened URL for this post: http://bit.ly/1FxRZ6VCC BY-NC-ND 3.0 2014 LSE USAPP

New York’s campaign finance loophole: Florida u-turns onMedicaid while Montana accepts: and South Dakota’s comingminimum wage fight: US state blog round up for 4 – 10 April

New York’s campaign finance loophole: Florida u-turns onMedicaid while Montana accepts: and South Dakota’s comingminimum wage fight: US state blog round up for 4 – 10 April

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